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Even: meaning, definitions and examples

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even

 

[ ˈiːvən ]

Adverb / Adjective / Verb
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Adverb

in a way that is flat, level, or equal

To an equal degree; equally.

Synonyms

equally, just as, likewise

Examples of usage

  • Even the best of us make mistakes.
  • She ran even faster than before.
Context #2 | Adjective

equal in number, amount, or value

Used to emphasize something surprising or extreme.

Synonyms

balanced, equal, level

Examples of usage

  • There was not even a single person there.
  • The journey was even longer than I expected.
Context #3 | Verb

make or become even

Make or become equal, uniform, or standard.

Synonyms

flatten, level, smooth

Examples of usage

  • She tried to even out the layer of icing on the cake.
  • The road was uneven, but they managed to even it out.

Translations

Translations of the word "even" in other languages:

🇵🇹 até

🇮🇳 समान

🇩🇪 gerade

🇮🇩 genap

🇺🇦 парний

🇵🇱 parzysty

🇯🇵 偶数

🇫🇷 pair

🇪🇸 par

🇹🇷 çift

🇰🇷 짝수

🇸🇦 زوجي

🇨🇿 sudý

🇸🇰 sudý

🇨🇳 偶数

🇸🇮 suden

🇮🇸 jafn

🇰🇿 жұп

🇬🇪 ზოგადი

🇦🇿 cüt

🇲🇽 par

Etymology

The word 'even' originated from the Old English word 'efen', meaning 'equal' or 'level'. Over time, it has evolved to be used in various contexts to denote equality, balance, or uniformity. The adverbial sense of 'even' developed in Middle English, emphasizing equality or sameness. The adjective form of 'even' has been used to emphasize surprise or extremity since the 16th century. The verb 'even' has roots in the idea of making something level or uniform, dating back to Old English.

See also: evening, evenly, evenness, uneven, unevenly.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #85, this word is extremely common in English. It's a crucial part of basic vocabulary that's used constantly in both spoken and written communication, making it essential for even basic conversations.