Whether Meaning
/ˈwɛðə(ɹ)/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
conjIntroduces a simple indirect question (without a correlative).
conjIndicates doubt between possibilities (usually with correlative or).
Sentence Examples
It is up to you to decide whether we will go there or not.
The real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do.
He seemed undecided whether to go or stay.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The final decision depends on ____ she arrives early or late for the meeting.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I am not sure ____ I should take the bus or several walk to the station earlier this very bright morning today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English whether, whather, from Old English hweþer, hwæþer, from Proto-West Germanic *hwaþar, from Proto-Germanic *hwaþeraz, comparative form of *hwaz (“who”). Cognate with North Frisian weđer (“if, whether”), German weder (“neither”), Swedish var (“each, every”), Icelandic hvor (“each of two, which of two”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"As a political system democracy seems to me extraordinarily foolish,[…]. My servant is, so far as I am concerned, welcome to as many votes as he can get.[…]I do not suppose that it matters much in reality whether laws are made by dukes or cornerboys, but I like, as far as possible, to associate with gentlemen in private life."
— 1915, G[eorge] A. Birmingham [pseudonym; James Owen Hannay], chapter I, in Gossamer, New York, N.Y.: George H. Doran Company, →OCLC:
"The incident immediately revived the debate about goal-line technology, with a final decision on whether it is introduced expected to be taken in Zurich on 5 July."
— 2012 June 19, Phil McNulty, “England 1–0 Ukraine”, in BBC Sport:
"Whether modern, industrial man is less or more warlike than his hunter-gatherer ancestors is impossible to determine. The machine gun is so much more lethal than the bow and arrow that comparisons are meaningless. One thing that is true, though, is that murder rates have fallen over the centuries, as policing has spread and the routine carrying of weapons has diminished."
— 2013 July 20, “Old soldiers?”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8845:
"The years have gone by and still we know not whether or no Mallory and Irvine reached the summit. But the will to climb Mount Everest is still alive."
— 1931 April, Francis Younghusband, “Preface”, in The Epic of Mount Everest, London: Edward Arnold & Co., →OCLC, →OL, page 5:
"whether ys it easyer to saye to the sicke of the palsey, thy synnes ar forgeven the: or to saye, aryse, take uppe thy beed and walke?"
— 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Mark ij:[9]:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The final decision depends on ____ she arrives early or late for the meeting.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I am not sure ____ I should take the bus or several walk to the station earlier this very bright morning today.