whether

Introduces a simple indirect question (without a correlative).

Conjunction

  1. Introduces a simple indirect question (without a correlative).
    • Whether we'll be on time I'm unsure.
    • Do you know whether he's coming?
  2. Indicates doubt between possibilities (usually with correlative or).
    • He chose the correct answer, but whether by luck or by skill I don't know.
    • I can't decide whether to get divorced now or wait.
    • 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...
  3. Introduces a disjunctive adverbial clause qualifying the main clause (with correlative or).
    • He's coming, whether you like it or not.
    • I'll enjoy playing with my friends again, whether we win or lose.
    • Whether or not you're successful, you can be sure you did your best.
  4. Introduces a direct question between alternatives (often with correlative or).
    • 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,...
    • Whether hadst thou rather be a Faulconbridge, [...] Or the reputed sonne of Cordelion? - c. 1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Iohn”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, &...

Origin

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”).

Related

either neither whethersoever

Derived

know whether one is Arthur or Martha not know whether one is coming or going not know whether to shit or go blind not know whether to spit or go blind

Determiner

  1. Which of two.
    • But to whether side fortune would have been partial could not be determined. - a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The...
    • Whilst thus the case in doubtfull ballance hong, Vnsure to whether side it would incline, - 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto III”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
    • In the morning sowe thy seede, and in the euening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good. - 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King...

Pronoun

  1. Which of two.
    • The debite answered and sayde unto them: whether of the twayne will ye that I lett loosse unto you? - 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC,...
    • Whether of them twain did the will of his father? - 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 21:31:
    • I told them we were in a country where we all knew there was a great deal of gold, and that all the world sent ships thither to get it; that we did not indeed know where it was, and so we might get a great deal, or a...