however1 adverbhowever2 conjunction
howeverhow‧ev‧er1 /haʊˈevə $ -ər/ ●●● S2 W1 adverb 
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- However much I try, I just don't understand him at all.
- Cotton production was on the increase. However, it was still a small industry compared to hemp and canvas production.
- Each one of us, however old or however young, is a valuable member of society.
- I could never watch any movie more than once, however good it is.
- My goodness, this room is so interesting. However did you think to decorate it in purple and green?
- Wyman stressed, however, that the main function of this church is to serve the needs of the poor.
- At the time, however, I feared poison gas.
- Her story, however, will overwhelm adults and mesmerize kids.
- In another sense, however, the approaches stand alongside each other.
- Interestingly, however, clerical workers show least sociability in this respect.
- Most insurers cover routine tests for older women, however.
- Perhaps tonight's events would, however, at least until the Society's suspicions had been allayed.
- That all changed with Clinton, however.
- The reality, however, is that the Institute has had considerable influence in knocking the rough edges off legislation and practice.
Longman Language Activatorto shake your head as a way of saying no
use this when you want to make it clear that nothing will change a situation, your intention etc: no matter how much/many: · I'm determined to go to New York, no matter how much it costs.no matter what/who/when etc: · Paul always calls me every day, no matter where he is.· No matter what position he plays, he'll be a great asset to the team.no matter how good/small/hot etc: · I never win, no matter how hard I try.· Dad was determined to get to the truth, no matter how long it took.
use this when the fact that something is very big, good etc does not change a situation: however much/many: · However much I try, I just don't understand him at all.however however adj/adv: · I could never watch any movie more than once, however good it is.· Each one of us, however old or however young, is a valuable member of society.
used when it is not important what happens, who does something etc, because it does not change the situation or your intention: · "I don't care," Carrie cried, "whatever anyone says!"· We can take a taxi or the bus, whichever comes first.· He's a capable man. I'm sure he can deal with whatever problems arise.· Don't forget, it's your job to support your leader, whoever it is.whichever of somebody/something: · Whichever of the cars you choose, I'm sure you'll be very pleased.
use this when what is done is not affected by different situations, problems etc: regardless of: · The rate of contribution to the pension plan is the same for all employees, regardless of age.regardless of whether/what/who etc: · Many people stick with their banks regardless of whether they offer the best deal.carry on/continue regardless: · It may rain by the end of the day, but we plan to carry on regardless.
use this when the same thing happens in every case without being affected by facts such as age, size, time, or position: · The job is open to anyone with the right qualifications, irrespective of their age.· Justice for all, irrespective of race or class, is everyone's right.irrespective of what/where/who etc: · All children should have access to the latest technology, irrespective of where they live or how much their parents earn.
use this to say that something should be ignored because it does not affect the situation or your intention: never mind that!: · "How do you know so much about Jake anyway?" "Never mind that!"never mind something: · I want this wedding to be perfect, never mind the cost.never mind what/why/when etc: · Never mind what Jalal says, Peter is a trusted member of our community.never mind that: · Never mind that it's late. I need to talk to you now.
use this when you are determined to do something whatever happens: · I'll be there come what may. I promise.· Some people are getting out of the country fast, but my cousin's family has decided to stay, come what may.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
I really want the car, however much it costs.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES You know how much I care about you. I think you have to accept the pain, however much it hurts. You can spend the money however you please.
1used when you are adding a fact or piece of information that seems surprising, or seems very different from what you have just said SYN nevertheless: I really want the car, however much it costs. You know how much I care about you. I think you have to accept the pain, however much it hurts. You can spend the money however you please. This is a cheap and simple process. However, there are dangers. an extremely unpleasant disease that is, however, easy to treat2used to say that it does not matter how big, good, serious etc something is because it will not change a situation in any way SYN no matter how: You should report any incident, however minor it is. We have to finish, however long it takes.however much/many I really want the car, however much it costs.3 especially British English used to show surprise when you ask how something happens or how someone does something: However did he get that job?however1 adverbhowever2 conjunction
howeverhowever2 ●●● S2 W3 conjunction EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- You guys can split up the driving however you want.
THESAURUS
conjunction used when linking two words or phrases that seem opposite or very different in meaning. Don’t use but at the beginning of a sentence in written English: · The plant’s leaves are big, but its flowers are quite small.· Her books are fascinating but often rather disturbing.· Many French dishes are basically simple, but they can take a long time to prepare.· Most of us value human life, but but some people think of animals as being equally important.
conjunction used when contrasting one clause with another in the same sentence: · Although you are in the middle of the city, you feel as if you are in the countryside.· The windmill is still in good working order, although it has not been used since the 1950s.· I enjoyed German although I wasn’t very good at it.· Although lack of sleep causes some problems, it has a relatively small effect on performance at work.
conjunction used when saying something that seems different or surprising after your previous statement. It is usually used in the middle of a sentence, separated from the rest of the sentence by commas. It can also come at the beginning: · Jack and his family managed to escape before the soldiers arrived. Other families in the village, however, were less lucky.· Their economy was incredibly successful in the 1980s. Since then, however, there has been a big rise in unemployment.· The town is a long way from the nearest big city. However, there is a good bus service.· He began his academic career as a mathematician. However, his main achievements were in the field of nuclear physics.
conjunction used when saying something that seems different or surprising after your previous statement. It is used at the beginning or end of a sentence: · A series of studies 20 years ago suggested that there was a link between watching violent films and violent behaviour. Nevertheless, the results remain highly controversial.· It was certainly a terrible accident. Nevertheless, air travel is still the safest form of transport.· The weather turned bad early in the day, but the festival was a great success nonetheless.· It was very hard digging in the dry ground, but the work was satisfying nevertheless.
conjunction used when making comparisons and saying that something is true of one person, thing, or situation, but it is different for another. They are used when contrasting one clause with another in the same sentence: · Taxes make up 62% of the price of a litre of petrol in France, whereas in Britain, the tax is 75%.· Some people visit their doctor once every few weeks, while others may not visit a doctor for several years.· Whereas in most of the world they drive on the right, in the UK and Japan they drive on the left.
formal used when making comparisons and saying that a person, thing, or situation is very different from the one you have just mentioned. It is used when referring back to the previous sentence: · The surface temperature on Venus is higher than the boiling point of water. Mars, by contrast, is very cold.· A report by the FBI shows that 26% of female murder victims in 1995 were killed by their husbands or boyfriends. By contrast, only 3% of male victims were killed by their wives or girlfriends.
Longman Language Activatorbusy use this to join two words or phrases when the second one has the opposite meaning to the first one, or when the second one is surprising after the first one, or when one is negative and one is positive: · I called but there was no one there.· He's short and not really handsome, but women still find him attractive.· They struggled in the first half, but still won 98-82.· She tried to read the message, but couldn't.· Tom's grandfather is over 80, but he still plays golf.· "Gone with the Wind' was a great movie, but it was a little long.· In the US it is normal for the police to carry guns, but not in Britain.
formal use this when saying something that is surprising after what you have just said, or that is very different from it: · It was a terrible accident. Nevertheless, air travel is still the safest form of transport.· December saw a more than average rainfall; however, the possibility of a drought is still strong.· War is never welcome, nonetheless, I believe that we must defend our country.but nevertheless/nonetheless: · The leaves aren't particularly dangerous, but nevertheless they are not something you'd want your child or pet to eat.
use this at the beginning of a sentence when you have just mentioned one side of an argument or situation and you are going to mention the opposite side: · Nuclear power is relatively cheap. On the other hand, you could argue that it's not safe.· The hamburger was tough and overcooked. The fries, on the other hand, were terrific, and well worth the money.but on the other hand: · You want to help your kids as much as you can, but on the other hand, you've got to be careful to help them learn on their own.
also mind you British spoken use this when you have just said one thing and you now want to say something very different about it, for example when you give an advantage and then a disadvantage: · Teaching is an interesting job. Then again, it can be very stressful too.· This trip is going to be very expensive. Still, we don't go away very often.· I'd love to travel around the world. Mind you, I wouldn't want to go on my own.· My parents are happy to lend me the money. All the same, I do feel guilty about it.
formal use this to introduce a fact that seems surprising after what you have just said: · The sun was shining, yet it was quite cold.· Last summer there was a drought, yet some people were still watering their lawns every day.
written use this to say that although something is true of one person, thing, or situation, it is not true of another: · Some house plants thrive if placed near a window with plenty of sunlight while others prefer to be in a more shaded spot.· American cars are generally too large for the Japanese market, whereas Japanese cars are popular in the US.
use this to introduce a fact or opinion that makes what you have just said less strong or definite: · Dan's been very ill, although he's better now.· I don't really like classical music, though I did enjoy that Pavarotti concert.· They're a very nice couple, although I very seldom see them these days.
use this at the end of a sentence to add a fact or opinion that makes what you have just said seem less important , or to add a different fact or opinion: · I think she's Swiss. I'm not sure, though.· George did say one nice thing, though.
use this to say that something is true in spite of the fact that you have just mentioned: · Try to run on a soft surface, such as grass. Even so, you may start having knee problems.but even so: · She had only seen Matthew Godden once before, but even so she recognized him instantly.· The fines for speeding are large, but even so, they are not always a deterrent.
spoken use this for introducing the reason why something is not possible: · I'd like to come and live here, only it's too expensive.· I would have asked them to stay with us, except we don't have enough room.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES You know how much I care about you. I think you have to accept the pain, however much it hurts. You can spend the money however you please.
in whatever way: You know how much I care about you. I think you have to accept the pain, however much it hurts. You can spend the money however you please. You can do it however you like. If we win the match, we’ll be delighted, however it happens. However you look at it, it was a wicked thing to do.► see thesaurus at but