either way vs however

either way

adv
  • Regardless of what happens (out of two possible situations). 

however

adv
  • In any way that one likes or chooses; in a haphazard or spontaneous way. 

  • How ever: an emphatic form of how, used to ask in what manner. 

  • In contrast. 

  • To whatever degree or extent. 

  • Nevertheless; yet, still; in spite of that. 

conj
  • In any way in which. 

  • Regardless of the way in which. 

  • But, yet, though, although. 

How often have the words either way and however occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )