Whenever

/wɛnˈɛvər/ conjunction

Definition

Used to talk about any time something happens, or every time it happens. It can also mean 'at whatever time.'

Etymology

From Middle English 'whanne evere', combining 'when' and 'ever' to give a sense of any or every time. Over centuries, it fused into the single word 'whenever.'

Kelly Says

Adding 'ever' to question words like 'when' turns a specific question into a more open, flexible idea. 'Whenever' doesn’t just ask about time; it stretches time into an 'any time' or 'every time' feeling.

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