wheth·er
(wĕth′ər, hwĕth′-)conj.1. Used in indirect questions to introduce one alternative:
We should find out whether the museum is open. See Usage Notes at
doubt,
if.
2. Used to introduce alternative possibilities: Whether she wins or whether she loses, this is her last tournament.
3. Either: He passed the test, whether by skill or luck.
pron. Archaic Which: "We came in full View of a great Island or Continent, (for we knew not whether)" (Jonathan Swift).
Idiom: whether or no Regardless of circumstances.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
whether
(ˈwɛðə) conj1. (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.
2. (often foll by: or not) used to introduce any indirect question: he was not certain whether his friend was there or not.
3. (
coordinating) another word for
either3:
any man, whether liberal or conservative, would agree with me.
4. (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.
5. whether or no a. used as a conjunction as a variant of
whether1 b. under any circumstances: he will be here tomorrow, whether or no.
6. 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,
pronobsolete which (of two): used in direct or indirect questions
[Old English hwæther, hwether; related to Old Frisian hweder, hoder, Old High German hwedar, Old Norse hvatharr, hvarr, Gothic hwathar]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
wheth•er
(ˈʰwɛð ər, ˈwɛð-)
conj. 1. (used to introduce the first of two or more alternatives, and sometimes repeated before the second or later alternative, usu. with the correlative or): It matters little whether we go or stay. Whether we go or whether we stay, the result is the same.
2. (used to introduce a single alternative, the other being implied or understood, or some clause or element not involving alternatives): See whether she has come. I doubt whether we can do anything now.
3. Archaic. (used to introduce a question presenting alternatives, usu. with the correlative or).
pron. Archaic. 4. which or whichever (of two)?
Idioms: whether or no, under whatever circumstances; regardless: He threatens to go whether or no.
[before 900; Middle English; Old English
hwether, hwæther=
hwe- (akin to
hwā who) +
-ther comp. suffix; c. Old High German
(h)wedar, Old Norse
hvatharr, Gothic
hwathar]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
weather
– whether1. 'weather'If you are talking about the weather, you are saying, for example, that it is raining, cloudy, sunny, hot, or cold.
The weather was good for the time of year.
The trip was cancelled because of bad weather conditions.
Be Careful!
Weather is an uncountable noun. Don't use 'a' with it. Don't say, for example, 'We are expecting a bad weather'. Say 'We are expecting bad weather'.
They completed the climb despite appalling weather.
The wedding took place in perfect May weather.
Don't tell someone what the weather is like by saying, for example, 'It's lovely weather'. Say 'The weather is lovely'.
The weather was awful. It hardly ever stopped raining.
2. 'whether'Do not confuse weather with whether. You use whether when you are talking about two or more alternatives.
I don't know whether to go out or stay at home.
She asked whether I wanted more coffee.
See whether
whether
Whether is used in reported clauses and conditional clauses.
1. used in reported clausesYou can use a clause beginning with whether after a reporting verb such as know, ask, or wonder. You use whether when you are mentioning two or more alternatives. You put whether in front of the first alternative, and or in front of the second one.
I don't know whether he's in or out.
I was asked whether I wanted to stay at a hotel or at his home.
When the two alternatives are opposites, you don't need to mention both of them. For example, instead of saying 'I don't know whether he's in or out', you can simply say 'I don't know whether he's in'.
Lucy wondered whether Rita had been happy.
I asked Professor Gupta whether he agreed.
2. 'whether...or not'You can also mention the second alternative using or not. You put or not either at the end of the sentence or immediately after whether.
I didn't know whether to believe him or not.
She didn't ask whether or not we wanted to come.
3. 'if'If can be used instead of 'whether', especially when the second alternative is not mentioned.
I asked her if I could help her
I rang up to see if I could get seats.
4. reporting uncertaintyIf someone is uncertain about doing a particular thing, or uncertain how to respond to a situation, you can report this using a clause consisting of whether and a to-infinitive.
I've been wondering whether to look for another job.
He didn't know whether to feel glad or sorry that she was leaving.
5. used in conditional clausesYou can add a clause containing whether and or not to a sentence to indicate that something is true in any of the circumstances you mention.
He's going to buy a house whether he gets married or not.
6. 'weather'Do not confuse whether with weather, which is pronounced the same way. If you say that it is raining, windy, hot, or cold, you are talking about the weather.
The wet weather lasted all weekend.
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