however

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Contents

English [edit]

Etymology [edit]

From Middle English how +‎ ever.

Pronunciation [edit]

Adverb [edit]

however (not comparable)

  1. (conjunctive) Nevertheless, nonetheless, even so, that said, in spite of this.
    He told me not to do it; however, I did it.
  2. (degree) To whatever degree; in whatever way.
    However clear you think you've been, many questions will remain.
    Let me know when you've had your interview, however it goes.
  3. (chiefly UK, as an intensified form in interrogatives) In what way; how.
    However did you do that?

Usage notes [edit]

  • (nevertheless): Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style argues that the adverb however, in its sense of nevertheless should be avoided at the beginning of a sentence.

Synonyms [edit]

The terms below need to be checked and allocated to the definitions (senses) of the headword above. Each term should appear in the sense for which it is appropriate. Use the template {{sense|"gloss"}}, substituting a short version of the definition for "gloss".

Translations [edit]

nevertheless
to what degree
intensifier: in what way
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked

Conjunction [edit]

however

  1. In whatever manner.
    Do it however you want.
  2. To whatever extent.
    However far he may get, there'll be many that get further.
    However much you prepare for the exam, there will still be a few questions on which you won't be sure of the answer.
  3. (proscribed) Although, though, but, yet.

Usage notes [edit]

  • (although): The use of however as a conjunction meaning "but" is identical to its use as a clause-initial adverb meaning "nevertheless", except in punctuation (when written) and in prosody (when spoken). Hence, the following proscribed sentence:

    (proscribed) He told me not to do it, however I did it.

    is equivalent to the following accepted one:

    (accepted) He told me not to do it; however, I did it.

    In particular, when used as a conjunction in this sense, however always appears between the clauses it connects; it does not introduce a true subordinate clause that can be moved to the start of an independent clause, because a conjunctive adverb cannot do that.

Translations [edit]

in whatever manner
to whatever extent

Statistics [edit]

References [edit]

  • however in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • “however” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, v1.0.1, Lexico Publishing Group, 2006.
  • "however" in Encarta® World English Dictionary [North American Edition] © & (P)2007 Microsoft Corporation.
  • "however (degree)" in Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary © Cambridge University Press 2007.
  • "however (despite)" in Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary © Cambridge University Press 2007.
  • "however (way)" in Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary © Cambridge University Press 2007.
  • "however" in Compact Oxford English Dictionary, © Oxford University Press, 2007.
  • Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., 1989.
  • Random House Webster's Unabridged Electronic Dictionary, 1987-1996.

Anagrams [edit]

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