however — English Dictionary

Adverb

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

   Usage

   • conjunctive
   • not-comparable

   Synonyms

   nonethelessnotwithstandingthat saidstill and allin any caseafter allanyway

   Examples

   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.

   More examples (4)

   I didn't argue with him; I still think, however, that he is wrong.

   Thus, when he drew up instructions in lawyer language, he expressed the important words by an initial, a medial, or a final consonant, and made scratches for all the words between; his clerks, however, understood him very well.

   That the young Mr. Churchills liked—but they did not like him coming round of an evening and drinking weak whisky-and-water while he held forth on railway debentures and corporation loans. Mr. Barrett, however, by fawning and flattery, seemed to be able to make not only Mrs. Churchill but everyone else do what he desired.

   Mostly, the microbiome is beneficial. It helps with digestion and enables people to extract a lot more calories from their food than would otherwise be possible. Research over the past few years, however, has implicated it in diseases from atherosclerosis to asthma to autism.

2. In contrast.

   Usage

   • conjunctive
   • not-comparable

   Examples

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

   More examples (1)

   It appears, however, that Korsch took the view that a revolutionary theory must be the 'expression' of a movement, and not an instrument forged outside the movement by leaders or theoreticians.

3. Regardless of how; no matter how

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Synonyms

   howsoeverhowsohowsoevermuch

   Examples

   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.

   More examples (2)

   However much I study, I never get good grades.

   Elinor, however little concerned in it, joined in their discourse; and Marianne, who had the knack of finding her way in every house to the library, however it might be avoided by the family in general, soon procured herself a book.

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

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Synonyms

   howsoeverhowsoanyhow

   Examples

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

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

   More examples (2)

   Elinor, however little concerned in it, joined in their discourse; and Marianne, who had the knack of finding her way in every house to the library, however it might be avoided by the family in general, soon procured herself a book.

   But the real way to build a successful online business is to be better than your rivals at undermining people's control of their own attention. Partly, this is a result of how online advertising has traditionally worked: advertisers pay for clicks, and a click is a click, however it's obtained.

5. In any way in which; how.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Examples

   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.

   Usage

   • Informal
   • not-comparable

   Examples

   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.

   Usage

   • interrogative
   • not-comparable

   Synonyms

   how + the dickens

   Examples

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

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

   Usage

   • not-comparable
   • Obsolete

   Examples

   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.

Conjunction

1. But, yet, though, although.

   Usage

   • proscribed

   Examples

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

Adverb

1. despite anything to the contrary (usually preceding a concession)

   Synonyms

   neverthelesswithalstillyetall the sameeven sononethelessnotwithstandingat the same time

   Examples

   although I'm a little afraid, however I'd like to try it

   while we disliked each other, nevertheless we agreed

   More examples (2)

   he was a stern yet fair master

   granted that it is dangerous, all the same I still want to go

2. by contrast; on the other hand

   Examples

   the first part was easy; the second, however, took hours

3. to whatever degree or extent

   Examples

   The results, however general, are important

   they have begun, however reluctantly, to acknowledge the legitimacy of some of the opposition's concerns

4. in whatever way or manner

   Examples

   Victory, however it was brought about, was sweet

   however he did it, it was very clever