equally

American  

[ee-kwuh-lee] / ˈi kwə li /

adverb

1. in an equal or identical manner.

   to treat rich and poor equally.

2. to an equal degree or extent.

   You are equally matched.

---

Etymology

Origin of equally

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; equal, -ly

Explanation

Use the adverb equally to mean "the same way" or "in similar shares." Something that's divided equally is split evenly or fairly between people. Your mom might say that she loves you and your brother equally — in other words, her affection is fairly distributed between the two of you. If you are equally disturbed by total silence and loud noises, it means that both bother you, to the exact same degree. Equally comes from the adjective equal, with its Latin root word, aequalis, "level, even, or just."

Example Sentences

To complicate matters further, not everyone may equally bear the burden of false accusations.

From Slate • Apr. 17, 2026

But as hair-raising as a loose wolf is for the locals, the situation may be equally fur-raising for Neukgu.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

However, quantum theory also offers another equally important framework developed by Werner Heisenberg.

From Science Daily • Apr. 14, 2026

What it can do is breathtaking, but what it can destroy is equally extraordinary.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

Bobby paid no attention to the stunning scenery or to Evans’s equally stunning wife, who sat in the backseat to allow the boy to sit up front.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Related Words

• equitably
• fairly
• justly
• uniformly