however

Pronunciation

IPA Phonetic Spelling of "however"

IPA: /ˈhəʊwəvər/

Syllable Breakdown:

• ˈhəʊ

• /h/ - voiceless unaspirated velar stop

• /əʊ/ - diphthong, starting with a mid-central unrounded vowel and ending with a close-mid back rounded vowel

• wə

• /w/ - labiovelar approximant

• /ə/ - schwa, a mid-central unrounded vowel

• vər

• /v/ - voiced labiodental fricative

• /ər/ - rhotic vowel, a mid-central unrounded vowel with a rhotic quality

Word Form Variations

There are no word form variations for "however" as it is a conjunction, not a noun.

Conjunctions connect words, phrases, or clauses, and they don't typically have plural or singular forms.

Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms

(Conjunction)

Definition: Used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or qualifies a previous statement.

• Synonyms: nevertheless, nonetheless, notwithstanding, still, yet

• Antonyms: therefore, consequently, hence, thus

Example: "I would love to go to the party, however, I have to work late."

However (Adverb)

Definition: Used to express a degree or extent, often implying a contrary or unexpected result.

• Synonyms: nevertheless, nonetheless, notwithstanding

• Antonyms: instead, otherwise, on the contrary

Example: "However hard he tried, he couldn't solve the puzzle."

Examples of Use

Books

• "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen: "However, he was too proud to tell her so."

• "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee: "However, Atticus Finch was a man of great character."

Newspapers

• The New York Times: "The plan was approved by the committee, however, it faced opposition from environmental groups."

• The Guardian: "The economy is improving, however, there are still concerns about unemployment."

Online Publications

• The Atlantic: "The article argues that climate change is a serious threat, however, it also acknowledges the challenges of implementing solutions."

• Vox: "The candidate promised to lower taxes, however, critics argue that this would benefit the wealthy more than the middle class."

Entertainment Mediums and Platforms

• TV Series: In the show "Breaking Bad," Walter White says, "However, I'm not going to let you die."

• Movies: In the film "The Dark Knight," Batman says, "However, I will not let you destroy this city."

• Video Games: In the game "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt," Geralt says, "However, I can't just ignore this."

General Public Discourse

• Social Media: "I'm excited about the new iPhone, however, I'm not sure if I can afford it."

• Conversations: "I would love to go on vacation, however, I don't have enough time."

• Speeches: "The government has made progress in addressing poverty, however, there is still much work to be done."

10 Famous Quotes Using the term However

1. "However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at."
   — Stephen Hawking

2. "However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results."
   — Winston Churchill

3. "However impenetrable it seems, if you don't try it, then you can never do it."
   — Andrew Wiles

4. "However great a man's natural talent may be, the act of writing cannot be learned all at once."
   — Jean-Jacques Rousseau

5. "However rare true love may be, it is less so than true friendship."
   — François de La Rochefoucauld

6. "However vast the darkness, we must supply our own light."
   — Stanley Kubrick

7. "However long the night, the dawn will break."
   — African Proverb

8. "However much we guard against it, we tend to shape ourselves in the image others have of us."
   — Eric Hoffer

9. "However hard you work, there are always times when things don't go right."
   — Steve Waugh

10. "However mean your life is, meet it and live it; do not shun it and call it hard names."
    — Henry David Thoreau

Etymology

"However" is a combination of two older words: "how" and "ever."

• "How" is a very old word that has been used for centuries to ask questions or to express manner or degree.

• "Ever" is also an old word that means "always" or "at any time."

When these two words were combined, they created "however," which originally meant "in whatever way." Over time, the meaning of "however" shifted to its current use, which is to introduce a statement that contrasts with or qualifies a previous statement.

The first known use of "however" in English dates back to the late 14th century.

Phrases + Idioms Containing the term However

Common Phrases

• "However, that being said," - Used to introduce a contrasting or qualifying statement.

• "However, the point is," - Used to emphasize a key argument or conclusion.

Lesser-Known Phrases

• "However, the flip side of the coin is," - Used to introduce a contrasting perspective.

• "However, on the other hand," - Another way to introduce a contrasting perspective.

Idioms with Synonyms

• "Nevertheless, the tide has turned." - Similar to "However, things have changed."

• "Nonetheless, he persevered." - Similar to "However, he continued."

• "Notwithstanding the obstacles, she succeeded." - Similar to "However, despite the challenges."

Note: While "however" can be used in various ways to create different meanings, it's often more flexible to use synonyms like "nevertheless," "nonetheless," or "notwithstanding" to create specific phrases or idioms. These words can often be used interchangeably with "however" to convey a similar meaning.

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Source Information

Definition of however from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.