even

¹

[ ee-vuhn ]

adjective

1. level; flat; smooth; without surface irregularities:

   The car can reach a top speed of 120 miles per hour on an even road.

   Synonyms: plane

   Antonyms: uneven, irregular

2. on 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.

3. free from variations or fluctuations; regular:

   He rocked the baby with a careful, even motion.

4. uniform in action, character, or quality:

   She governed successfully because she had managed to hold an even course between conflicting principles and parties.

5. equal in measure or quantity:

   Add even amounts of oil and vinegar.

6. (of a number) divisible by two ( odd ):

   The numbers 2, 16, and 30 are even.

7. denoted by a number divisible by two:

   There are small illustrations on the top of the even pages of the book.

8. exactly expressible in integers, or in tens, hundreds, etc., without fractional parts:

   It's an even seven miles there and back.

9. Mathematics. (of a function) having a sign that remains the same when the sign of each independent variable is changed at the same time.
10. equally balanced or divided; equal:

    Check to see if the scales are even.

11. leaving no balance of debt on either side; square:

    We will not be even until I can repay him for saving my life.

12. calm; placid; not easily excited or angered:

    If you're looking for a dog with an even temper and friendly personality, this breed is perfect.

    Synonyms: peaceful, composed, temperate, tranquil

    Antonyms: mercurial

13. equitable, impartial, or fair:

    After much wrangling, they finally came to an even bargain that suited everyone.

    Synonyms: just

    Antonyms: biased

adverb

1. evenly:

   The road ran even over the fields.

2. 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.

3. (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.

4. (used to emphasize the occurrence or nonoccurrence of an event, or the simultaneity 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.

5. fully or quite:

   I will protect my child even to my death.

6. indeed (used as an intensive for stressing the identity or truth of something):

   He is willing, even eager, to do it.

7. exactly or precisely:

   It was even so.

verb (used with object)

1. to make even; level; smooth (sometimes followed by out ):

   The first step is to even the board with a plane.

2. 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.

verb (used without object)

1. to become even:

   The odds evened before the race.

verb phrase

1. 1. to make or become even, smooth, or flat:

      The wrinkles will even out when the suit dries.

   2. to become equal, balanced, stable, etc.:

      We were optimistic that the situation would even out eventually.

even

²

[ ee-vuhn ]

noun

, Archaic.

1. evening; eve.

Even

³

[ ey-wuhn, ev-uhn ]

noun

, plural E·vens, (especially collectively) E·ven

1. a member of a Siberian people living mainly in the Yakut Autonomous Republic in the Russian Federation.
2. the Tungusic language spoken by the Even.

even

¹

/ ˈiːvən /

noun

1. See evening, eve
   an archaic word for eve evening

even

²

/ ˈiːvən /

adjective

1. level and regular; flat

   an even surface

2. postpositivefoll bywith on the same level or in the same plane (as)

   one surface even with another

3. without variation or fluctuation; regular; constant

   an even rate of progress

4. not readily moved or excited; placid; calm

   an even temper

5. equally balanced between two sides

   an even game

6. equal or identical in number, quantity, etc

   two even spoonfuls of sugar

7. 1. (of a number) divisible by two
   2. characterized or indicated by such a number Compare odd

      maps are on the even pages

8. 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

9. having no balance of debt; neither owing nor being owed
10. just and impartial; fair

    an even division

11. exact in number, amount, or extent

    an even pound

12. equal, as in score; level

    now the teams are even

13. See odd
    maths (of a function) unchanged in value when the sign of the independent variable is changed, as in y = z ² See odd
14. even money
    even money
    1. a bet in which the winnings are the same as the amount staked
    2. ( as modifier )

       the even-money favourite

15. get even informal.
    get even to exact revenge (on); settle accounts (with)
16. of even date formal.
    of even date law of the same or today's date

adverb

1. (intensifier; used to suggest that the content of a statement is unexpected or paradoxical)

   even an idiot can do that

2. (intensifier; used with comparative forms)

   this is even better

3. notwithstanding; in spite of

   even having started late she soon caught him up

4. used to introduce a more precise version of a word, phrase, or statement

   he is base, even depraved

5. 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

6. archaic.
   that is to say; namely (used for emphasis)

   he, even he, hath spoken these things

7. archaic.
   all the way; fully

   I love thee even unto death

8. even as
   even as conjunction at the very same moment or in the very same way that

   even as I spoke, it thundered

9. even so
   even so in spite of any assertion to the contrary: nevertheless

verb

1. to make or become even

even

/ ē′vən /

1. Divisible by 2 with a remainder of 0, such as 12 or 876.

Derived Forms

• ˈevenness, noun
• ˈevenly, adverb
• ˈevener, noun

Other Words From

• e·ven·er noun
• e·ven·ly adverb
• e·ven·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of even¹

First recorded before 900; (for the adjective) Middle English efn(e), emne, even, Old English ef(e)n; cognate with Gothic ibns, Old High German eban, Old Norse jafn “even, equal”; adverb and verb derivative of the adjective

Origin of even²

First recorded before 950; Middle English eve(n), Old English ǣfen, ēven; akin to German Abend, Old Frisian āvend, ēvend; evening

Origin of even³

< Russian ėvén < Evenki əwən

Word History and Origins

Origin of even¹

Old English ǣfen; related to Old Frisian ēvend, Old High German āband

Origin of even²

Old English efen; related to Old Norse jafn even, equal, Gothic ibns, Old High German eban

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. break even, to have one's profits equal one's losses; neither gain nor lose:

   The company barely broke even last year.

2. get even, to be revenged; retaliate:

   He vowed to get even for the insult.

More idioms and phrases containing even

• break even
• never give a sucker an even break
• on an even keel

Synonym Study

See level.

Example Sentences

Alcohol and sugar, even in moderate amounts, are not only sinful but poisonous.

From The Daily Beast

This is even more striking in Submission than in his previous books.

From The Daily Beast

Even internally in the House, women are not getting their fair shake.

From The Daily Beast

Weiss is likely to get confirmed even as Warren and a handful of other progressive Democrats vote no.

From The Daily Beast

For many years afterward it was a never-ending topic of conversation, and is more or less talked of even to this day.

From The Daily Beast

Some were even re-arrested for the same nefarious purpose, and the daily papers published their names on each occasion.

From Project Gutenberg

Even as they gazed they saw its roof caught up, and whirled off as if it had been a scroll of paper.

From Project Gutenberg

I presume the twenty-five or thirty miles at this end is unhealthy, even for natives, but it surely need not be so.

From Project Gutenberg

Genoa has but recently and partially felt the new impulse, yet even here the march of improvement is visible.

From Project Gutenberg

He was the strangest-looking creature Davy had ever seen, not even excepting the Goblin.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• indeed
• much