whenever
wuh-NEH-vuh
Whenever (conj) means At any time that; every time that. Example: “Whenever it rains, the roof leaks.”
conj
1
At any time that; every time that.
"Visit whenever you want to."
"Whenever he has a pair of aces, his eyelids twitch."
"Whenever it rains, the roof leaks."
"Come over whenever you like."
"Income must be reported in the period in which it is earned, whenever payment is actually received."
"Whenever I hear that song, I think of our holiday."
How to use whenever
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn open-ended version of "when," meaning "at any/every time that."
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_____ it rains, the roof leaks.
Etymology
From Middle English, formed by joining "when" and "ever" for emphasis.
Synonyms
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at any time
every time
each time
any time that
no matter when
Related words
Rhymes for whenever
See all rhymes for whenever →Frequently asked questions
What does “whenever” mean?
The word “whenever” means at any time that; every time that. In plain terms, an open-ended version of "when," meaning "at any/every time that.".
How do you pronounce “whenever”?
“Whenever” is pronounced wuh-NEH-vuh (/wəˈnɛvɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “whenever” in a sentence?
Here is “whenever” used in a sentence: “Whenever it rains, the roof leaks.”
What part of speech is “whenever”?
“Whenever” is a conjunction.
Where does the word “whenever” come from?
The word “whenever” comes from Middle English. From Middle English, formed by joining "when" and "ever" for emphasis.
Is “whenever” a common word?
“Whenever” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between when and whenever?
'When' points to a particular time ('I'll call when I arrive'). 'Whenever' means at any time that, or every time that, leaving the exact time open or stressing that it repeats ('I'll call whenever I get a chance'; 'Whenever it rains, the roof leaks'). Whenever adds a sense of 'no matter when'.
What is an example of whenever in a sentence?
Whenever links an action to an unspecified or recurring time: 'Drop by whenever you like' means at any time that suits you. 'Whenever she sings, the room falls silent' means every time she sings. It can also show indifference to timing, as in 'We can leave now or whenever.'
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