Definitions for Whether
ˈʰwɛð ər, ˈwɛð-whether

Wiktionary(1.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. whetherpronoun

   Which of two.

2. whetherconjunction

   ; if, whether or not.

   Do you know whether he's coming?

3. whetherconjunction

   Introducing a direct interrogative question which indicates doubt between alternatives.

   whether ys it easyer to saye to the sicke of the palsey, thy synnes ar forgeven the: or to saye, aryse, take uppe thy beed and walke?

4. whetherconjunction

   Used to introduce an indirect interrogative question that consists of multiple alternative possibilities.

   He chose the correct answer, but I don't know whether it was by luck or by skill.

5. whetherconjunction

   Without a correlative, used to introduce a simple indirect question.

   Do you know whether he's coming?

6. whetherconjunction

   Used to introduce a disjunctive adverbial clause which qualifies the main clause of the sentence.

   He's coming, whether you like it or not.

7. Etymology: Old English hwæþer, from Proto-Germanic *hwaþeraz, comparative form of *hwaz ("who"). Cognate with English either, German weder ("neither"), Swedish var, Icelandic hvor ("each of two, which of two").

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Whetheradverb

   A particle expressing one part of a disjunctive question in opposition to the other.

   Etymology: hwœðer , Saxon.

   As they, so we have likewise a publick form, how to serve God both morning and evening, whether sermons may be had or no. Richard Hooker.

   Resolve whether you will or no. William Shakespeare, Rich. III.

   Perkins’s three counsellors registered themselves sanctuarymen; and whether upon pardon obtained, or continuance within the privilege, they were not proceeded with. Francis Bacon.

   If we adjoin to the lords, whether they prevail or not, we engulph ourselves into assured danger. John Hayward.

   Then did’st thou found that order, whether love
   Or victory thy royal thoughts did move,
   Each was a noble cause. John Denham.

   Epictetus forbids a man, on such an occasion, to consult with the oracle whether he should do it or no, it being necessary to be done. Decay of Piety.

   Whether by health or sickness, life or death, mercy is still contriving and carrying on the spiritual good of all who love God. Robert South, Sermons.

   This assistance is only offered to men, and not forced upon them, whether they will or no. John Tillotson.

   When our foreign trade exceeds our exportation of commodities, our money must go to pay our debts, whether melted or not. John Locke.

   Whether it be that the richest of these discoveries fall not into the pope’s hands, or for some other reason, the prince of Farnese will keep this seat from being turned up, ’till one of his own family is in the chair. Joseph Addison, on Italy.

2. Whetherpronoun.

   Which of two.

   Whither when they came, they fell at words
   Whether of them should be the lord of lords. Hubberd’s Tale.

   Whether of them twain did the will of his father? Mat. xxi.

   Whether is more beneficial, that we should have the same yearly quantity of heat distributed equally, or a greater share in Summer, and in Winter a less? Richard Bentley.

   Let them take whether they will: if they deduce all animals from single pairs, even to make the second of a pair, is to write after a copy. Richard Bentley.

Webster Dictionary(4.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Whether

   which (of two); which one (of two); -- used interrogatively and relatively

2. Whether

   in case; if; -- used to introduce the first or two or more alternative clauses, the other or others being connected by or, or by or whether. When the second of two alternatives is the simple negative of the first it is sometimes only indicated by the particle not or no after the correlative, and sometimes it is omitted entirely as being distinctly implied in the whether of the first

3. Etymology: [OE. whether, AS. hwer; akin to OS. hwear, OFries. hweder, OHG. hwedar, wedar, G. weder, conj., neither, Icel. hvrr whether, Goth. hwaar, Lith. katras, L. uter, Gr. , , Skr. katara, from the interrogatively pronoun, in AS. hw who. . See Who, and cf. Either, Neither, Or, conj.]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Whether

   hweth′ėr, interrog. and rel. pron. signifying which of two.—conj. which of two alternatives.—interrog. adv. introducing the first of two questions, the second being introduced by or—also conj.—Whether or no (coll.), in any case, surely. [A.S. hwæther, from hwá, who, with the old comp. suffix -ther; cog. with Goth. hwathar, Ger. weder; also with L. uter, Gr. koteros, Sans. katara. Cf. Other and Alter.]

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'Whether' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #277

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'Whether' in Written Corpus Frequency: #265

How to pronounce Whether?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say Whether in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Whether in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Whether in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of Whether in a Sentence

1. Scott Walker:

   The mayor can speak for himself, i'm not going to comment on whether, what the president thinks or not. He can speak for himself. I'll tell you I love America, and I think there are plenty of people Democrat, Republican, independent and everybody in between who love this country.

2. Al Schmidt:

   In Philly, we set out and voted on a procedure complying with the Pennsylvania election code for how to challenge those mail-in ballots whether they are absentee ballots or regular mail-in ballots and as of close of business today, we did not receive a challenge to any of them.

3. Simson Panjaitan:

   We are supposed to get a fair treatment. Let's see whether what has been reported in the media is correct. Many employees here will suffer because of this accusation if there is no evidence or any follow up.

4. Barack Obama:

   I need you to go out and talk to your friends and talk to your neighbors, i want you to talk to them whether they're independent or whether they are Republican. I want you to argue with them and get in their face.

5. Angela Gittens:

   That is a time that has passed, governments have found that under the right circumstances they can get private investment. They don't have to decide whether I'm going to spend money on an airport versus spending money on a hospital versus spending money on education.

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