every

American  

[ev-ree] / ˈɛv ri /

adjective

1. being one of a group or series taken collectively; each.

   We go there every day.

2. all possible; the greatest possible degree of.

   every prospect of success.

---

idioms

1. every bit, in every respect; completely.

   This is every bit as good as she says it is.

2. every which way, in all directions; in disorganized fashion.

   I brushed against the table, and the cards fell every which way.

3. every now and then, on occasion; from time to time: Also every once in a while, every so often.

   She bakes her own bread every now and then.

4. every other, every second; every alternate.

   milk deliveries every other day.

every British  

/ ˈɛvrɪ /

determiner

1. each one (of the class specified), without exception

   every child knows it

2. (not used with a negative) the greatest or best possible

   every hope of success

3. each: used before a noun phrase to indicate the recurrent, intermittent, or serial nature of a thing

   every third day

   every now and then

   every so often

4. (used in comparisons with as) quite; just; equally

   every bit as funny as the other show

5. each alternate; every second

   every other day

6. 1. in all directions; everywhere

      I looked every which way for you

   2. from all sides

      stones coming at me every which way

---

every More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing every

• at every turn
• each and every
• finger in the (every) pie
• living soul, every
• nook and cranny, every

---

Related Words

See each.

Etymology

Origin of every

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English every, everich, Old English ǣfre ǣlc, literally “ever each” (the first element of the phrase reinforcing the second); ever ( def. ), each

Example Sentences

"You live through that every day, if only I asked for a second opinion, the outcome could have been different."

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

“Asian refiners, shut out of Middle Eastern supply, are bidding aggressively for every available Atlantic Basin barrel,” she says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Instead of blindly bidding up shares of just about every company making its Wall Street debut, there have been some big misses scattered among some successful debuts.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

The middle class is stretching every dollar by buying in bulk, or adopting tactics to save on gas, or putting items on credit.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

His display of beloved human books looked as haggard as Clare felt, and more decorative than anything, for he had long ago memorized their every word.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

Related Words

• all