however

Pronunciation

• IPA: /haʊˈɛv.ə/ (UK); /haʊˈɛv.ɚ/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is a compound, from English how + ever,^[2][3][4] first written in Middle English as hou-ever.^[5] In poetry it is often shortened to howe'er.^[6][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

In whatever manner, by whatever means, introducing a subordinate clause (about 1380).^[7]

Semantic evolution

The first senses were the ones that keep how in view: “in whatever way” (about 1380) and “to whatever extent” (about 1400).^[7][8] In the late 16th century however also meant “although” and “in any case, at all events”, uses now obsolete or archaic.^[7][3] The sense now most common, “nevertheless, for all that”, qualifying a whole clause, is first recorded in 1613,^[7] and Johnson (1755) gave it as the third sense of the word.^[9] The emphatic interrogative use, however did you get here?, is from 1607 and is colloquial.^[7]

Timeline

• c. 1380 – in whatever manner.^[7]
• c. 1400 – to whatever extent.^[7]
• 1591 – although; at any rate (both obsolete).^[7]
• 1607 – emphatic how in questions.^[7][8]
• 1613 – nevertheless, yet.^[7]
• 1876 – used on its own as a comment or interjection.^[7]

Modern meaning

Adverb

1. Nevertheless; yet; on the other hand, introducing a contrasting statement.
2. In whatever way: however you look at it.
3. To whatever degree: however long it takes.
4. (informal) An emphatic form of how: however did you manage?

Conjunction

1. In whatever manner: go however you like.
2. (archaic) Although.

Related words

• how
• ever
• whatever
• nevertheless

Usage notes

Some grammarians have objected to however at the start of a sentence, but many reputable writers use it there.^[10] As an adverb it is written as one word, but when ever merely adds emphasis to how it is written separately (how ever did you manage?).^[11]

References

1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
2. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b c Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
6. ^ The Chambers Dictionary (2008), 11th ed., Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
8. ^ a b Kay, Christian; Roberts, Jane; Samuels, Michael; Wotherspoon, Irené, eds. (2009), Historical Thesaurus of the Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford: Oxford University Press; online edition (2024)
9. ^ Johnson, Samuel (1755), A Dictionary of the English Language, London; 4th ed. 1773; Johnson's Dictionary Online, ed. Beth Rapp Young et al.
10. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
11. ^ Soanes, Catherine; Stevenson, Angus, eds. (2004), Concise Oxford English Dictionary, 11th ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press