whether

CEFRB1

/ˈwɛðə(ɹ)/

conjunction

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    conjunction

    Used to show two possible choices or conditions.

  2. 02

    conjunction

    Extra detail

    Indicates doubt between possibilities (usually with correlative or).

Examples

  • He seemed undecided whether to go or stay.

  • It is up to you to decide whether we will go there or not.

At a glance

Sits at B1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5

Deep Dive

conjunction

Extra meanings

  1. Introduces a disjunctive adverbial clause qualifying the main clause (with correlative or).

  2. Introduces a simple indirect question (without a correlative).

  3. Introduces a direct question between alternatives (often with correlative or).

More examples

In context

  • The real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do.

  • He chose the correct answer, but whether by luck or by skill I don't know.

  • Whether we'll be on time I'm unsure.

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The final decision depends on blank she arrives early or late for the meeting.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

conjunction

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”).