even
1on the same level; in the same plane or line; parallel: Plunge the poles into the soil until the lines you marked are even with the ground.
free from variations or fluctuations; regular: He rocked the baby with a careful, even motion.
uniform in action, character, or quality: She governed successfully because she had managed to hold an even course between conflicting principles and parties.
equal in measure or quantity: Add even amounts of oil and vinegar.
(of a number) divisible by two (opposed to odd): The numbers 2, 16, and 30 are even.
denoted by a number divisible by two: There are small illustrations on the top of the even pages of the book.
exactly expressible in integers, or in tens, hundreds, etc., without fractional parts: It's an even seven miles there and back.
Mathematics. (of a function) having a sign that remains the same when the sign of each independent variable is changed at the same time.
equally balanced or divided; equal: Check to see if the scales are even.
leaving no balance of debt on either side; square: We will not be even until I can repay him for saving my life.
equitable, impartial, or fair: After much wrangling, they finally came to an even bargain that suited everyone.
evenly: The road ran even over the fields.
still; yet (used to emphasize a comparative): I liked your previous idea for Mom's gift, but I think this one is even more suitable.
(used to suggest that something mentioned as a possibility constitutes an extreme case or an unlikely instance):Even the slightest noise disturbs him.Even if he attends, he may not participate.
(used to emphasize the occurrence or nonoccurrence of an event, or the simultaneousness of events): Even as he lay dying, they argued over his estate.I loaned her my car for a whole week, but she didn't even fill the gas tank up before returning it to me.
fully or quite: I will protect my child even to my death.
indeed (used as an intensive for stressing the identity or truth of something): He is willing, even eager, to do it.
exactly or precisely: It was even so.
to make even; level; smooth (sometimes followed by out): The first step is to even the board with a plane.
to place in an even state as to claim or obligation; balance (often followed by up): I need to even up the accounts before I do my taxes.
to become even: The odds evened before the race.
even out,
to make or become even, smooth, or flat: The wrinkles will even out when the suit dries.
to become equal, balanced, stable, etc.: We were optimistic that the situation would even out eventually.
Idioms about even
break even, to have one's profits equal one's losses; neither gain nor lose: The company barely broke even last year.
get even, to be revenged; retaliate: He vowed to get even for the insult.
Origin of even
1synonym study For even
Other words for even
Opposites for even
Other words from even
- e·ven·er, noun
- e·ven·ly, adverb
- e·ven·ness, noun
Other definitions for even (2 of 3)
evening; eve.
Origin of even
2Other definitions for Even (3 of 3)
a member of a Siberian people living mainly in the Yakut Autonomous Republic in the Russian Federation.
the Tungusic language spoken by the Even.
Origin of Even
3- Also called Lamut.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use even in a sentence
Pooh, I ha seen better, and as you term them, evener and cleaner.
The excellence here is evener, the artistic skill finer, the style more uniformly pleasing.
The Age of Tennyson | Hugh WalkerThe small pieces, therefore, absorb the heat more evenly, and this gives an evener action of the rennet.
Hints on Dairying | T. D. CurtisThe second, may be represented by two horses attached side by side to the same evener.
Physics | Willis Eugene TowerShow by diagram how to arrange a three-horse evener so that each horse must take one-third of the load.
Physics | Willis Eugene Tower
British Dictionary definitions for even (1 of 2)
/ (ˈiːvən) /
level and regular; flat: an even surface
(postpositive foll by with) on the same level or in the same plane (as): one surface even with another
without variation or fluctuation; regular; constant: an even rate of progress
not readily moved or excited; placid; calm: an even temper
equally balanced between two sides: an even game
equal or identical in number, quantity, etc: two even spoonfuls of sugar
(of a number) divisible by two
characterized or indicated by such a number: maps are on the even pages Compare odd (def. 4)
relating to or denoting two or either of two alternatives, events, etc, that have an equal probability: an even chance of missing or catching a train
having no balance of debt; neither owing nor being owed
just and impartial; fair: an even division
exact in number, amount, or extent: an even pound
equal, as in score; level: now the teams are even
maths (of a function) unchanged in value when the sign of the independent variable is changed, as in y = z ²: See odd (def. 8)
even money
a bet in which the winnings are the same as the amount staked
(as modifier): the even-money favourite
get even informal to exact revenge (on); settle accounts (with)
of even date law formal, or obsolete of the same or today's date
(intensifier; used to suggest that the content of a statement is unexpected or paradoxical): even an idiot can do that
(intensifier; used with comparative forms): this is even better
notwithstanding; in spite of: even having started late she soon caught him up
used to introduce a more precise version of a word, phrase, or statement: he is base, even depraved
used preceding a clause of supposition or hypothesis to emphasize the implication that whether or not the condition in it is fulfilled, the statement in the main clause remains valid: even if she died he wouldn't care
archaic that is to say; namely (used for emphasis): he, even he, hath spoken these things
archaic all the way; fully: I love thee even unto death
even as (conjunction) at the very same moment or in the very same way that: even as I spoke, it thundered
even so in spite of any assertion to the contrary: nevertheless
to make or become even
Origin of even
1- See also break even, even out, evens, even up
Derived forms of even
- evener, noun
- evenly, adverb
- evenness, noun
British Dictionary definitions for even (2 of 2)
/ (ˈiːvən) /
Origin of even
2Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for even
[ ē′vən ]
Divisible by 2 with a remainder of 0, such as 12 or 876.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with even
In addition to the idioms beginning with even
- even money
- even so
also see:
- break even
- never give a sucker an even break
- on an even keel
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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