You use whatever to refer to anything or everything of a particular type.
Franklin was free to do pretty much whatever he pleased.
When you're older I think you're better equipped mentally to cope with whatever happens.
He's good at whatever he does.
Whatever is also a determiner.
Whatever doubts he might have had about Ingrid were all over now.
2. conjunction
You use whatever to say that something is the case in all circumstances.
We shall love you whatever happens, Diana.
People will judge you whatever you do.
She runs about 15 miles a day every day, whatever the weather.
3. adverb [noun ADVERB]
You use whatever after a noun group in order to emphasize a negative statement.
[emphasis]
There is no evidence whatever that competition in broadcasting has ever reduced costs.
I have nothing whatever to say.
4. pronoun
You use whatever to ask in an emphatic way about something which you are very surprised about.
[emphasis]
Whatever can you mean?
Whatever is the matter with you both?
5. conjunction
You use whatever when you are indicating that you do not know the precise identity, meaning, or value of the thing just mentioned.
[vagueness]
I thought that my upbringing was 'normal', whatever that is.
'I love you,' he said.—'Whatever that means,' she said.
6.
See or whatever
7. convention
You say 'whatever you say' to indicate that you accept what someone has said, even though you do not really believe them or do not think it is a good idea.
[feelings]
'We'll go in your car, Billy.'—'Whatever you say.'
8.
See whatever sb does
whatever in British English
(wɒtˈɛvə, wət-)
pronoun
1.
everything or anything that
do whatever he asks you to
2.
no matter what
whatever he does, he is forgiven
3. informal
an unknown or unspecified thing or things
take a hammer, chisel, or whatever
4.
an intensive form of what, used in questions
whatever can he have said to upset her so much?
determiner
5.
an intensive form of what
use whatever tools you can get hold of
adjective
6. (postpositive)
absolutely; whatsoever
I saw no point whatever in continuing
exclamation
7. informal
an expression used to show indifference or dismissal
whatever in American English
(hwʌtˈɛvər; wʌtˈɛvər)
pronoun
1.
what? which thing, event, circumstance, etc.?: an emphatic interrogative, expressing perplexity or wonder
whatever can she mean by that?
2.
anything that
tell her whatever you like
3.
no matter what
whatever you may think, he's innocent
4.
the amount, portion, or part that
take whatever you need from our supply
5. Informal
anything else of the sort
usually preceded by or
use a pencil, a pen, (or) whatever
adjective
6.
of no matter what type, degree, quality, etc.
to make whatever repairs are needed
7.
being who it may be
whatever man told you that, it is not true
8.
of any kind
used following the word that it modifies
I have no plans whatever
Also ; OLD-FASHIONED, Poetic whatˈe'er (hwʌtˈɛvɛr; ˈwʌtˈɛvˈɛr)
Examples of 'whatever' in a sentence
whatever
We do not know the nature of whatever lies in the pit you Saw, or its powers.
Garth Nix LIRAEL: DAUGHTER OF THE CLAYR (2001)
I should be safely back at the Glacier while he deals with Hedge and whatever else is out there!
Garth Nix LIRAEL: DAUGHTER OF THE CLAYR (2001)
The restaurant was full, every table occupied, everyone concerned with their own troubles, joys, whatever.
Jon Cleary YESTERDAY'S SHADOW (2001)
I'd find out where she'd been, send her a little money, whatever she needed.
James Grippando A KING'S RANSOM (2001)
In other languages
whatever
British English: whatever /wɒtˈɛvə/ CONJUNCTION
You use whatever to talk about anything or everything of a type.
We can do whatever you want.
American English: whatever
Arabic: مَهْمَا
Brazilian Portuguese: qualquer
Chinese: 任何事
Croatian: štogod
Czech: cokoli
Danish: hvad som helst
Dutch: wat
European Spanish: cualquier cosa
Finnish: mitä tahansa
French: n'importe quoi
German: alles (was wir wollen)
Greek: οτιδήποτε
Italian: qualsiasi cosa
Japanese: 何でも
Korean: 어떤~이든
Norwegian: hva som helst
Polish: cokolwiek
European Portuguese: qualquer um
Romanian: orice
Russian: всякий
Latin American Spanish: cualquier
Swedish: vad som…än
Thai: สิ่งใดก็ตาม
Turkish: ne istersen
Ukrainian: що завгодно
Vietnamese: bất cứ thứ gì
Chinese translation of 'whatever'
whatever
(wɔtˈɛvəʳ)
adj
(= any) 任何的 (rènhé de)
conj
(= no matter what) 无(無)论(論)什么(麼) (wúlùn shénme)
adv
(= whatsoever) 任何 (rènhé)
pron
(indicating vagueness) 不论(論)什么(麼) (bùlùn shénme)
(= what) 究竟什么(麼) (jiūjìng shénme)
do whatever is necessary/you want做任何必要的/你想做的事情 (zuò rènhé bìyào de/nǐ xiǎng zuò de shìqing)