whether

[hweth -er, weth -] /ˈʰwɛð ər, ˈwɛð-/

conjunction

(used to introduce the first of two or more alternatives, and sometimes repeated before the second or later alternative, usually with the correlative or):

It matters little whether we go or stay. Whether we go or whether we stay, the result is the same.

(used to introduce a single alternative, the other being implied or understood, or some clause or element not involving alternatives):

See whether or not she has come. I doubt whether we can do any better.

Archaic. (used to introduce a question presenting alternatives, usually with the correlative or).

pronoun, Archaic.

which or whichever (of two)?

Idioms

whether or no, under whatever circumstances; regardless:

He threatens to go whether or no.

Origin

before 900; Middle English; Old English hwether, hwæther, equivalent to hwe- (base of hwā who) + -ther comparative suffix; cognate with Old Norse hvatharr, Gothic hwathar

Can be confused

weather, whether, whither, wither (see synonym study at wither)

Usage note

See if.

Examples from the web for whether

Ask students whether they think joining together with other countries might have an effect on a country's culture.
Evolutionary theorists question whether there's an adaptive purpose to dreaming.
Time to find out whether you got tenure.
All that matters is whether it's a good piece of writing or not.
Scholars disagree on whether students' work has worsened.
She questions whether the rate of autism is increasing.
Politely, he asked whether I would mind answering a few questions.
These quick sauces and dry rubs are delicious whether you're roasting, pan-frying, or grilling.
He thinks about calories, too, and whether he's getting enough vitamins.
It remains to be seen whether even small sequences can be extracted from ancient fossils with any regularity, experts say.

British Dictionary definitions for whether

whether

/ˈwɛðə/

conjunction

(subordinating) used to introduce an indirect question or a clause after a verb expressing or implying doubt or choice in order to indicate two or more alternatives, the second or last of which is introduced by or or or whether: he doesn't know whether she's in Britain or whether she's gone to France

(subordinating) often foll by or not. used to introduce any indirect question: he was not certain whether his friend was there or not

(coordinating) another word for either (sense 3) any man, whether liberal or conservative, would agree with me

(coordinating) (archaic) used to introduce a direct question consisting of two alternatives, the second of which is introduced by or or or whether: whether does he live at home or abroad

whether or no

used as a conjunction as a variant of whether (sense 1)
under any circumstances: he will be here tomorrow, whether or no

whether…or, whether…or whether, if on the one hand…or even if on the other hand: you'll eat that, whether you like it or not

determiner, pronoun

(obsolete) which (of two): used in direct or indirect questions

Word Origin

Old English hwæther, hwether; related to Old Frisian hweder, hoder, Old High German hwedar, Old Norse hvatharr, hvarr, Gothic hwathar

Word Origin and History for whether

conj.

Old English hwæðer, hweðer "which of two, whether," from Proto-Germanic *khwatharaz (cf. Old Saxon hwedar, Old Norse hvarr, Gothic huaþar, Old High German hwedar "which of the two," German weder "neither"), from interrogative base *khwa- "who" (see who) + comparative suffix *-theraz (cf. Sanskrit katarah, Avestan katara-, Greek poteros, Latin uter "which of the two, either of two," Lithuanian katras "which of the two," Old Church Slavonic koteru "which"). Its comparative form is either. Phrase whether or not (also whether or no) recorded from 1650s.

Idioms and Phrases with whether

whether

In addition to the idiom beginning with whether also see: not know whether