whether or not

1 of 2

phrase (1)

1

: without being stopped or affected by something specified

We're going whether or not you decide to come along.

2

a

: if it is or was true that

uncertain whether or not all the options have been explored

b

: if it is or was better

wondered whether or not to include those details

3

archaic : in any case

"They've only been married a very few weeks, whether or no."

—Thomas Hardy

whether or not

2 of 2

phrase (2)

variant of whether or no

: in any case

they've only been married a very few weeks, whether or no

—Thomas Hardy

Examples of whether or not in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Phrase

Much of the argument in the coming months for or against a cap will have to do with whether or not the players feel they are advantaged or disadvantaged by a cap. — Alex Sherman, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026

On an episode of Newsom’s podcast last month that featured Equal Justice Initiative director Bryan Stevenson, the governor described the question of whether or not to grant universal clemency as a test of his conscience. — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 6 Nov. 2026

The instructions are to apply before wash day—the brand does not mention whether or not this replaces conditioner or adds an extra step. — Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 6 Nov. 2026

Perhaps this is obvious, but the thing about a comedy is that everyone knows in real time whether or not the movie is working or not working — a binary thumbs up, thumbs down feeling — at least for me. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2026

Rhymes for whether or not

• immunoblot
• aeronaut
• aforethought
• afterthought
• apricot
• argonaut
• astronaut
• camelot
• coffeepot
• concordat
• cosmonaut
• entrepot