conj
whether
WEH-thuh
conj
1
Used to introduce a question or choice between two or more possibilities.
"She couldn't decide whether to take the job or stay where she was."
"I'm not sure whether it will rain tomorrow."
How to Use Whether
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishIntroduces a choice between options, similar to "if" but used for alternatives.
Common mistake
Frequently confused with "weather" (the sound is identical); "whether" is always about choice or possibility, never about rain or sunshine.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
whether or not
whether to
question of whether
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She couldn't decide _____ to take the job or stay where she was.
Etymology
From Old English hwæther, originally meaning "which of the two" — a comparative form built on the same root as "who".