Like it or loathe it, the word ‘whatever’ has been around for a long time and given its many different uses in everyday discourse, it doesn’t look like fading anytime soon. In this post, we’ll discuss its meanings, origin, it’s place in popular culture, and look at some whatever quotes and lyrics, ranging from light-hearted to serious, the cool and inspirational, to the outright dismissive.
Origins of ‘Whatever’
The word ‘whatever’ was first seen in a poem in the 1300s: “But what euer he had in þouȝt” (“But whatever he had in thought”). Soon after in the same century, being joined to form ‘Whateuer.’ And there are more examples dating from that time through the Middle Ages and Victorian times (Grammarphobia).
From that first mention almost 700 years ago, ‘whatever’ and ‘what ever’ have become an established part of the English language in terms of both common speech and literature.
From the father of English literature, Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century, to Shakespeare during the English Renaissance, 18th century writers such as Jane Austin, to Victorian era authors such as Charles Dickens, the word has been used by prominent figures in many well-known literary works.
‘Whatever’ has also been used in a range of poetry and songs in more recent times. For example, released in 1956, Doris Day’s Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be) reached No. 2 on the US Billboard charts and No. 1 in the UK, becoming known as her signature song.
Beautifully sung, this is a world away from the modern slang use we see today. See the song video below.
‘Whatever’ Meanings
The use of ‘whatever’ seems to fall into two broad categories – the traditional uses that evolved over the centuries, or modern slang.
For example, a common use of whatever is to mean anything or everything: Choose whatever you like; – “What shall we do at the weekend?” “I don’t mind, whatever you think is good“; Whatever you do, don’t forget to buy your ticket in advance.
Another frequent use is to express that something isn’t important, or someone doesn’t mind about an outcome: We could watch the game, that new TV show, just chill out, or whatever; Whatever the outcome, it makes no difference to me.
For full dictionary definitions, see the following: Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Collins Dictionary.
Modern Slang Term
The use of ‘whatever’ as a slang term seems to have emerged during the 1950s/60s. 1965 is cited as the year when two examples of slang usage appeared in the TV shows Bewitched and My Mother the Car (Wikipedia). That could suggest the term was in common use a little before that time.
And 11 years later in 1976, this scene featuring lovable Fozzie Bear is one of many from The Muppet Show using the slang version of whatever.
Liam Lynch’s brilliant comedy punk style song “United States of Whatever” exemplifies the use of ‘whatever’ as a dismissive term as he uses it with disdain in various encounters with people throughout the song, except for Zafo, who gets some respect.
If you haven’t heard it, click this link to skip the quotes you came here for and listen to it immediately below.
Voted Most Annoying Word
Having stood the test of time, in 2009 poll respondents showed their dislike of the word by voting it the word that annoys people the most – in the slang way it’s used to dismiss or show a lack of interest. And so it was judged for the next five years running, and the following three years. No doubt due to its overuse as an dismissive answer to anything that someone either doesn’t like or can’t be bothered to give a meaningful response to.
A classic example by the character Amber (played by Elisa Donovan), from the movie Clueless, released in 1995…
And who evens needs words when you’ve got the ‘W’ symbol… followed the ‘L’ for loser. Brutal.
(Kelly Kapoor, played by Mindy Kaling in The Office – US)
Great ‘Whatever’ Quotes
“Whatever you say, say it with conviction.” – Mark Twain
“Whatever you do, always give 100% — unless you’re donating blood.” – Bill Murray
“Whatever you believe, with conviction, becomes your reality.” – Brian Tracy
“Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.” – Jane Howard
“People waste their time pondering whether a glass is half empty or half full. Me, I just drink whatever’s in the glass.” – Sophia Petrillo (The Golden Girls)
“You are deserving of whatever you want. You truly are. This is one of the most important truths you can come to understand.” – Bob Doyle
Laugh at whatever you find funny. Don't laugh at things that you don't find funny. It's really simple. There is no argument.
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) September 1, 2020
“Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.” – Arthur Conan Doyle
“Whatever is begun in anger, ends in shame.” – Benjamin Franklin
“Do whatever you’re doing the best you can, knowing there’s a bigger horizon.” – Dean Graziosi
“Whatever we plant in our subconscious mind and nourish with repetition and emotion will one day become a reality.” – Earl Nightingale
“If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul.” – Harold S. Kushner
“With whatever you’re doing in life… if you know it’s true, if you know it’s real, you have to do it… That’s where the magic is.” – Kamal Ravikant
“Whatever you accomplish in life is a manifestation not as much of what you do, as of what you believe you deserve.” – Les Brown
“We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained.” – Marie Curie
“Self-care is your fuel … Whatever the road ahead or the path you’ve taken, self-care is what keeps your motor running and your wheels turning.” – Melissa Steginus
“You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best that you have to give.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“Follow your own fascination, obsessions, and compulsions. Trust them. Create whatever causes a revolution in your heart.” – Elizabeth Gilbert
“Whatever, dude, whatever. Peace. God bless.” – Hansel (Zoolander)
“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. “This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.” – Steve Jobs
“Whatever you are, try to be a good one.” – William Makepeace Thackeray
“Sometimes you’ve got to let everything go – purge yourself. If you are unhappy with anything… whatever is bringing you down, get rid of it. Because you’ll find that when you’re free, your true creativity, your true self comes out.” – Tina Turner
“Whatever you hold in your mind on a consistent basis is exactly what you will experience in your life.” – Tony Robbins
“Like, you know, whatever.” – Lisa Simpson
“Whatever the mind can conceive it can achieve.” – W. Clement Stone
“Whatever you do, do it well. Do it so well that when people see you do it, they will want to come back and see you do it again, and they will want to bring others and show them how well you do what you do.” – Walt Disney
“Take your victories, whatever they may be, cherish them, use them, but don’t settle for them.” – Mia Hamm
“My principle is to do whatever us right, and leave the consequences to him who has the disposal of them.” – Thomas Jefferson
“Whatever you do, do with all your might.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero
“Whatever happens to you belongs to you. Make it yours. Feed it to yourself even if it feels impossible to swallow. Let it nurture you, because it will.” – Cheryl Strayed
“Whatever you want to do, do it now. There are only so many tomorrows.” – Michael Landon
“Whatever it is you’re seeking won’t come in the form you’re expecting.” – Haruki Murakami
“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.” – Lao Tzu
‘Whatever’ in Song Titles and Lyrics
There are many songs that include ‘whatever’ in the lyrics but also some great tunes that have it in the title itself. Liam Lynch’s “United States of Whatever” expresses the dismissive use perfectly and with Oasis using the more traditional everything/anything type meaning.
“United States of Whatever”
(Performed and written by Liam Lynch)
Sample lyrics:
So later I’m- I’m at the, the pool hall
And this girl comes up
And she’s all like “Awww”
And I’m like “Yeah, whatever!”
‘Cause this is my United States of Whatever!
“Whatever”
(Performed by Oasis / written by Noel Gallagher)
Sample lyrics:
I’m free to be whatever I
Whatever I choose, and I’ll sing the blues if I want
I’m free to say whatever I
Whatever I like, if it’s wrong or right, it’s alright
“Qué Será, Será (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)”
(Performed by Doris Day / written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans)
Sample lyrics:
Qué será, será
Whatever will be, will be
The future’s not ours to see
Qué será, será
What will be, will be
“Whatever”
(Performed by En Vogue / written by Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Keith Andes, and Giuliano Franco)
Sample lyrics:
Whatever you do
Whatever you think
I look in your eyes
You don’t know how my heart aches
Whatever you say
Whatever could mean
You’re breaking my heart
“Whatever”
(Performed by Gnarls Barkley / written by Danger Mouse and CeeLo Green)
Sample Lyrics:
But it’s cool (it’s cool)
It could be better (could be better)
I don’t care (I don’t care)
Whatever (whatever)
Whatever, man