whenever

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/hwɛnˈɛvər/

US:USA pronunciation: IPAUSA pronunciation: IPA/hwɛnˈɛvɚ, wɛn-, hwən-, wən-/

US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(hwen evər, wen-, hwən-, wən-)


WordReference Collins English Usage © 2026
whenever
used in time clauses
You use whenever in time clauses to say that something always happens or is always true when something else happens or is true.
Whenever she lost a game, she used to cry.
She always comes to see me whenever she is in the area.
If you are talking about the future, you use the present simple tense in the time clause, not a future form.
You can talk to me whenever you feel depressed.
Every time and each time can be used in a similar way to ‘whenever’.
Every time I want to catch that bus it's late.
He frowned each time she spoke.
used with ‘possible’
You can use whenever with possible instead of using a time clause. For example, instead of saying ‘She met him whenever it was possible for her to meet him’, you simply say ‘She met him whenever possible’.
I avoided arguments whenever possible.
It is better to tell the truth whenever possible.
'whenever' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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