however

Nevertheless; yet, still; in spite of that.

Adverb

  1. 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.
    • She wanted to go; however, she decided against it.
    • I didn't argue with him; I still think, however, that he is wrong.

    Synonyms: 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 but even so having said that howbeit however just the same maugre natheless nevertheless still that being said though

    Coordinate Terms: but

  2. In contrast.
    • The conference itself went very well. The party afterwards, however, was a disaster.
  3. 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.
    • Any rule of thumb, however true (it is), is useless unless you understand its underlying logic.
    • However much I study, I never get good grades.

    Synonyms: howsoever howso howsoevermuch

  4. Regardless of how; regardless of the way in which.
    • Let me know when you've had your interview, however it goes.
    • However we do this, it isn't going to work.
    • Elinor, however little concerned in it, joined in their discourse; and Marianne, who had the knack of finding her way in every house to the library, however it might be avoided by the family in general, soon procured...

    Synonyms: howsoever howso anyhow

  5. In any way in which; how.
    • She offered to help however she could.
    • Wear your hair however you want.
  6. In any way that one likes or chooses; in a haphazard or spontaneous way.
    • I don't care; just do it however.
    • Nothing was really planned; things just happened however.
  7. 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?

    Synonyms: how + the dickens

    Coordinate Terms: whatever

  8. 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. - c. 1680, John Tillotson

Origin

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

Derived

however one slices it

Conjunction

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