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however

conjunction

  1. nevertheless
L333953 on Wikidata ↗

adverb

  1. prefacing a contradictory phrase
L4134 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /haʊˈɛvə/ / /haʊˈɛvɚ/ / /hɑˈwɛvə(ɹ)/

adv

Etymology: From Middle English however, how-ever, how-evere; equivalent to how + ever. Compare howsoever.

  1. Nevertheless; yet, still; in spite of that.

    He told me not to do it. However, I did it anyway. / I did it anyway, however. / I, however, did it anyway.

    She wanted to go; however, she decided against it.

  2. In contrast.

    The conference itself went very well. The party afterwards, however, was a disaster.

  3. Regardless of how; no matter how

    However clear you think you've been, and however many questions you may've answered, there'll always remain some doubts.

    Any rule of thumb, however true (it is), is useless unless you understand its underlying logic.

  4. Regardless of how; regardless of the way in which.

    Let me know when you've had your interview, however it goes.

    However we do this, it isn't going to work.

  5. In any way in which; how.

    She offered to help however she could.

    Wear your hair however you want.

  6. In any way that one likes or chooses; in a haphazard or spontaneous way.

    I don't care; just do it however.

    Nothing was really planned; things just happened however.

  7. How ever: an emphatic form of how, used to ask in what manner.

    I thought it was impossible. However were you able to do it?

  8. In any case, at any rate, at all events.

    Our chief end and highest interest is happiness : And this is happiness to be freed from all (if it may) [or] however from the greatest evils.

conj

Etymology: From Middle English however, how-ever, how-evere; equivalent to how + ever. Compare howsoever.

  1. But, yet, though, although.

    *She wanted to go, however she decided against it.