be that as it may

adverb

Even if that is the case; whether that is true or not; nevertheless.

“"He doesn't earn much money." "Be that as it may, he's been successful in what he set out to do."”

Similar
be it as it mayhowbeitnevertheless
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Meanings

adverbbe that as it may (not comparable)
  1. idiomaticnot comparableEven if that is the case; whether that is true or not; nevertheless.

    "He doesn't earn much money." "Be that as it may, he's been successful in what he set out to do."

    5 more examples

    Be that as it may, the duty of all communicants lies plain.

    1732, Henry Grove, A Discourse concerning the Nature and Design of the Lord's Supper, 1753 Charles Wright edition, London, p. 37 (Google preview)

    But be that as it may, the principle of it is founded in truth.

    1776, William Combe, The Diaboliad: A Poem. Dedicated to the Worst Man in His Majesty's Dominions, London: G. Kearsly, page 14

    We English people, be that as it may, have among us the best nursing for love and the worst nursing for money that can be got in Europe.

    1858 June 12, Charles Dickens, Household Words, number 429, page 602

    It has frequently been asserted in the Indian press that the United States does not understand India's position. . . . Be that as it may, it is certainly true that some sectors of Indian opinion likewise do not adequately understand the motives of the United States.

    1953 May 24, “Mr Dulles Visits South Asia”, in New York Times, page E10

    "They seem to think I'm photogenic." Be that as it may, and Rollins surely is a striking figure, his music and only his music matters.

    2005 June 23, Mark Miller, “No rest for this elder statesman of jazz”, in The Globe and Mail, Toronto, Canada, page R3

    Synonyms: be it as it may, howbeit, nevertheless

Synonyms & antonyms

adverbEven if that is the case; whether that is true or not; nevertheless.

Similar
be it as it mayhowbeitnevertheless
Also see
all the samebe it as it maybuteven sohaving said thathowevernathelessneverthelessstill and allthat saidwithalyet

Translations

Catalan no contrastant això
  • no contrastant aixònevertheless
Chinese Mandarin 儘管如此, 尽管如此
  • 儘管如此nevertheless
  • 尽管如此 (jǐnguǎn rúcǐ)nevertheless
Dutch hoe dan ook, wat er ook van zij
  • hoe dan ooknevertheless
  • wat er ook van zijnevertheless
Finnish oli miten oli
  • oli miten olinevertheless
French quoi qu'il en soit, en tout cas
  • quoi qu'il en soitnevertheless
  • en tout casnevertheless
  • de toute façonnevertheless
German wie dem auch sei
  • wie dem auch seinevertheless
Hebrew אף על פי כן
  • אף על פי כןnevertheless
Italian sia quel che sia
  • sia quel che sianevertheless
Māori me aha koa
  • me aha koanevertheless
Polish bądź co bądź
  • bądź co bądźnevertheless
Portuguese seja como for, de qualquer forma
  • seja como fornevertheless
  • de qualquer formanevertheless
  • de todo modonevertheless
Russian как бы то ни́ бы́ло, будь что бу́дет
  • как бы то ни́ бы́ло (kak by to ní býlo)nevertheless
  • будь что бу́дет (budʹ što búdet)nevertheless
Spanish sea como fuere
  • sea como fuerenevertheless
Urdu جو بھی ہو
  • جو بھی ہو (jo bhī ho)nevertheless
Cite this entry
APA

be that as it may. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/be%20that%20as%20it%20may

MLA

“be that as it may.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/be%20that%20as%20it%20may. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “be that as it may,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/be%20that%20as%20it%20may.

Source: be that as it may on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.