Word
whoever
Phoneticswho·ev·er, stress on the second syllable
US/huˈɛvɝ/
UK/huːˈɛvɐ/
Definitions
01any person who
B1 · Intermediate
pron. the person or people who do something — it doesn't matter who they are.
pron. the person or persons who; used as a relative pronoun to refer to any individual who meets a certain condition.
“Whoever finished the milk should buy some more today.”
“Whoever is responsible for the final draft must ensure that all citations are formatted according to the new style guide.”
Pitfall
Whoever do you think you are?
Who ever do you think you are?
In emphatic questions, 'who ever' is traditionally written as two words, though 'whoever' is increasingly common in informal writing.
Synonyms
02no matter who
B2 · Upper Intermediate
pron. used to say that the identity of a person is not important or will not change the result.
pron. regardless of which person; used to introduce a concessive clause where the specific identity of the subject does not alter the outcome.
“Whoever calls the office today, tell them I am in a meeting.”
“Whoever may have leaked the documents, the damage to the company's reputation is already significant and difficult to repair.”
Synonyms
03emphatic who
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal
pron. a stronger way to say 'who' when you are surprised or confused.
pron. an emphatic form of the interrogative 'who', expressing surprise, disbelief, or confusion.
“Whoever would want to go outside in this terrible storm?”
“Whoever could have imagined that such a small startup would eventually dominate the global logistics market?”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “whoever” in context.
Verb
01. blame whoever
“It is easy to blame whoever was in charge at the time, but the problem is more complex.”
verb + noun
02. give it to whoever
“I don't need this extra ticket, so you can give it to whoever wants to go.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
03. identify whoever
“The police are trying to identify whoever left the suspicious package in the lobby.”
verb + noun
04. listen to whoever
“He is very open-minded and will listen to whoever has a different perspective on the issue.”
verb + prep + noun
05. reward whoever
“The company promised to reward whoever came up with the most innovative solution.”
verb + noun
Preposition
06. by whoever
“The report must be signed by whoever is acting as the department head today.”
prep + noun
07. from whoever
“We are happy to accept donations from whoever is willing to support the cause.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“He hopes whoever is chosen as the new UN Secretary General and takes office at the start of next year will engage more effectively.” “Sandra is, by her own description, always half-awake – listening for whoever might be coming for her four small children while they sleep.” Etymology
From Middle English whoever. By surface analysis, who + ever.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Pre-1
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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