whoever

UK: /huːˈɛvə^r/ US: /huˈɛvɚ/ ,(ho̅o̅ ev′ər)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

who•ev•er /huˈɛvɚ/   pron. 

1. whatever person;
   anyone that:
   Whoever did it should be proud.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

who•ev•er  (ho̅o̅ ev′ər), pron.;
  possessive whos•ev•er;
 objective whom•ev•er. 

1. whatever person;
   anyone that:
   Whoever did it should be proud. Ask whoever is there. Tell it to whomever you like.
2. no matter who:
   I won't do it, whoever asks.
3. who? what person? (used to express astonishment, disbelief, disdain, etc.):
   Whoever is that? Whoever told you such a thing?

• 1125–75; Middle English; see who, ever

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

whoever / huːˈɛvə/ pronoun

1. any person who; anyone that: whoever wants it can have it
2. no matter who: I'll come round tomorrow, whoever may be here
3. an intensive form of who, used in questions: whoever could have thought that?
4. an unknown or unspecified person: give those to John, or Cathy, or whoever

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

whos•ev•er  (ho̅o̅ zev′ər), pron. 

1. (the possessive case of whoever used as an adjective):
   Whosever wagon this is, get it out of here. Whosever is this ridiculous hat?
2. the one or ones belonging to whomever:
   Whosever will win, do you think?

• whose + ever 1730–40