Adjacent Words

However definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

HOWEV'ER, adv. [how and ever.] In whatever manner or degree; as, however good or bad style may be.
1. At all events; at least.
Our chief end is to be freed from all, if it may be, however, from the greatest evils.
2. Nevertheless; notwithstanding; yet. I shall not oppose your design; I cannot however approve of it.
You might howe'er have took a fairer way.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adv
1: despite anything to the contrary (usually following a concession); "although I'm a little afraid, however I'd like to try it"; "while we disliked each other, nevertheless we agreed"; "he was a stern yet fair master"; "granted that it is dangerous, all the same I still want to go" [syn: however, nevertheless, withal, still, yet, all the same, even so, nonetheless, notwithstanding]
2: by contrast; on the other hand; "the first part was easy; the second, however, took hours"
3: to whatever degree or extent; "The results, however general, are important"; "they have begun, however reluctantly, to acknowledge the legitimacy of some of the opposition's concerns"
4: in whatever way or manner; "Victory, however it was brought about, was sweet"; "however he did it, it was very clever"

Merriam Webster's

I. conjunction Date: 14th century 1. in whatever manner or way that <will help however I can> 2. archaic although II. adverb Date: 14th century 1. a. in whatever manner or way <shall serve you, sir, truly, however else — Shakespeare> b. to whatever degree or extent <has done this for however many thousands of years — Emma Hawkridge> 2. in spite of that ; on the other hand <still seems possible, however, that conditions will improve> <would like to go; however, I think I'd better not> 3. how in the world <however did you manage to do it>

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adv. 1 a in whatever way (do it however you want). b to whatever extent, no matter how (must go however inconvenient). 2 nevertheless. 3 colloq. (as an emphatic) in what way, by what means (however did that happen?).

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

However How*ev"er, adv. [Sometimes contracted into howe'er.] 1. In whetever manner, way, or degree. However yet they me despise and spite. --Spenser. Howe'er the business goes, you have made fault. --Shak. 2. At all events; at least; in any case. Our chief end is to be freed from all, if it may be, however from the greatest evils. --Tillotson.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

However How*ev"er, conj. Nevertheless; notwithstanding; yet; still; though; as, I shall not oppose your design; I can not, however, approve of it. In your excuse your love does little say; You might howe'er have took a better way. --Dryden. Syn: However, At least, Nevertheless, Yet. Usage: These words, as here compared, have an adversative sense in reference to something referred to in the context. However is the most general, and leads to a final conclusion or decision. Thus we say, the truth, however, has not yet fully come out; i.e., such is the speaker's conclusion in view of the whole case. So also we say, however, you may rely on my assistance to that amount; i. e., at all events, whatever may happen, this is my final decision. At least is adversative in another way. It points out the utmost concession that can possibly be required, and still marks the adversative conclusion; as, at least, this must be done; whatever may be our love of peace, we must at least maintain the rights of conscience. Nevertheless denotes that though the concession be fully made, it has no bearing of the question; as, nevertheless, we must go forward. Yet signifies that however extreme the supposition or fact comceded may be, the consequence which might naturally be expected does not and will not follow; as, though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee; though he slay me, yet will I trust in him. Cf. But.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. You use however when you are adding a comment which is surprising or which contrasts with what has just been said. This was not an easy decision. It is, however, a decision that we feel is dictated by our duty... Some of the food crops failed. However, the cotton did quite well... ADV: ADV with cl 2. You use however before an adjective or adverb to emphasize that the degree or extent of something cannot change a situation. You should always strive to achieve more, however well you have done before... However hard she tried, nothing seemed to work... ADV: ADV adj/adv, ADV many/much [emphasis] 3. You use however when you want to say that it makes no difference how something is done. However we adopt healthcare reform, it isn't going to save major amounts of money... Wear your hair however you want. CONJ 4. You use however in expressions such as or however long it takes and or however many there were to indicate that the figure you have just mentioned may not be accurate. Wait 30 to 60 minutes or however long it takes. ADV: ADV many/much, ADV adv [vagueness] 5. You can use however to ask in an emphatic way how something has happened which you are very surprised about. Some speakers of English think that this form is incorrect and prefer to use 'how ever'. However did you find this place in such weather? = how QUEST [emphasis]

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. ad. Howsoever, in whatever manner, in whatever degree. II. conj. Yet, still, nevertheless, but, though, notwithstanding.

Moby Thesaurus

after all, again, albeit, all the same, although, anyhow, anyway, anywise, at all, at all events, at any rate, but, by any means, come what may, even, even so, except, for all that, how, howbeit, in any case, in any event, in any way, in what way, irregardless, just the same, nevertheless, no matter how, no matter what, nohow, nonetheless, notwithstanding, on, per contra, rather, regardless, save, still, though, when, yet, yowl