What does “however” mean?
- 1
adverbused to add a statement that contrasts with what was just said
The plan is good. However, it will cost too much.
- 2
adverbno matter how
However hard I try, I can’t open this jar.
However at a glance
- Part of speech
- adverb
- CEFR level
- B1 (intermediate)
- Pronunciation
- /haʊˈɛvɚ/ · how-EV-er
How to use “however” correctly
“However” can’t join two clauses with a comma alone: write “It rained. However, we went out” or “It rained; however, we went out.”
Synonyms, opposites and related words
“however” is on these word lists
Learn these words next
- particularly adverbB1more than usual or more than others
- rather adverbB1used in “would rather” to say what you prefer
- simply adverbB1in a way that is easy to understand
- actually adverbA2used to say what is really true, often when it is surprising
- else adverbA2in addition to or different from the person, thing or place already mentioned
- especially adverbA2more than usual or more than others; in particular
- even adverbA2used to show that something is surprising or more than expected
- exactly adverbA2completely correct, with no difference at all