however

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however

/haʊˈɛvə/ UK
/haʊˈɛvɚ/ Canada, US
/hɑˈwɛvə(ɹ)/ New York City
/hæɔˈevə/ Australia
/hæʊˈevə/ New Zealand

Rhymes with -ɛvə(ɹ)

Where it comes from

From Middle English however, how-ever, how-evere; equivalent to how + -ever. Compare howsoever.

adverb

conjunctive, not comparable Nevertheless; yet, still; in spite of that. He told me not to do it. However, I did it anyway. / I did it anyway, however. / I, however, did it anyway.
Similar: nonetheless, notwithstanding, that said, still and all, in any case, after all, anyway, all that said, anyhow, all the same, be it as it may, be that as it may
conjunctive, not comparable In contrast. The conference itself went very well. The party afterwards, however, was a disaster.
not comparable Regardless of how; no matter how However clear you think you've been, and however many questions you may've answered, there'll always remain some doubts.
Similar: howsoever, howso, howsoevermuch
not comparable Regardless of how; regardless of the way in which. Let me know when you've had your interview, however it goes.
Similar: howsoever, howso, anyhow
not comparable In any way in which; how. She offered to help however she could.
informal, not comparable In any way that one likes or chooses; in a haphazard or spontaneous way. I don't care; just do it however.
interrogative, not comparable How ever: an emphatic form of how, used to ask in what manner. I thought it was impossible. However were you able to do it?
Similar: how + the dickens
not comparable, obsolete In any case, at any rate, at all events. Our chief end and highest interest is happiness : And this is happiness to be freed from all (if it may) [or] however from the greatest evils.

conjunction

proscribed But, yet, though, although. *She wanted to go, however she decided against it.

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: nevertheless, nonetheless, notwithstanding, even so, withal, yet, how, still, though, anyway, anyhow, howsoever, whilst, otherwise, elsewhere, also

Translations

Every language

adv to whatever extent or degree

Español	cuantoquiera, cuanto sea
Français	peu importe
Deutsch	egal wie

adv 3. no matter how

Español	por más, aunque más, por muy, por mucho

adv 5. in any way that one likes or chooses

Español	mal que bien, bien que mal, comoquiera, comoquier, de cualquier modo, de cualquier forma
한국어	아무튼 amuteun
日本語	とにかく tonikaku
中文	無論如何 /无论如何 wúlùnrúhé
हिन्दी	वैसे भी vaise bhī
Português	de qualquer forma
Français	quoi qu'il en soit, d'ailleurs
Deutsch	wie auch immer
Italiano	comunque, in ogni modo
Română	oricum
Русский	в любо́м слу́чае v ljubóm slúčaje
العربية	بِأَيَّةِ طَرِيقَة biʔayyati ṭarīqa, عَلَى كُلِّ حَال ʕalā kulli ḥāl
עברית	בכל מקרה bekhól mikré, בכל זאת bekhól zót

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MLA

"however." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/however. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

however. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/however

Chicago

"however." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/however.

BibTeX

@misc{however_2026,
  title = {however},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/however},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}