No, “however” is not a preposition. It can function as an adverb or a conjunction, depending on how it is used in a sentence.
Uses of “However”:
- As an Adverb (Meaning “nevertheless” or “on the other hand”)
- The restaurant was fully booked; however, they found us a table.
- He prefers online orders; however, some customers still call in.
- As an Adverb (Indicating “To Whatever Degree or Extent”)
- You can customize the menu however you like.
- She adjusted the POS settings however necessary.
- As a Conjunction (Less Common, Meaning “In Whatever Way”)
- However you approach the problem, the solution remains the same.
- Take your time, however long it takes.
Why “However” Is Not a Preposition
- Prepositions (e.g., in, on, under, about) show relationships between words.
- “However” does not establish a relationship between a noun/pronoun and another word; instead, it modifies a clause or verb, making it an adverb or conjunction.
Thus, “however” is an adverb or conjunction, not a preposition.
