Whenever
/wɛnˈɛvər/
Definitions
At or on any occasion that; any time that.
/wɛnˈɛvər/
At any time that; every time that.
Whenever you feel tired, take a break.
💡 Simply: It's like saying 'every time.' Like, 'Whenever I go to the park, I see squirrels.' It just means 'every time I go to the park,' no matter what!
👶 For kids: It means 'any time' or 'every time'. Like, 'Whenever it's sunny, I play outside!'
More Examples
I will always be here whenever you need me.
Whenever the phone rings, she answers it.
Whenever the weather is bad, the traffic is awful.
How It's Used
"Whenever you're ready, we can leave."
"Whenever the light turns red, apply the brakes."
"Whenever circumstances dictate, the policy will be reviewed."
From 'when' + 'ever', reflecting the idea of 'at any time that'. The 'ever' intensifies the meaning of 'when', implying a repeated or unspecified occurrence.
The compound 'whenever' started being used in Middle English period.
Memory tip
Think of 'when' plus 'ever' – it's about every time 'when' happens.
Word Origin
"at what time"