equal

[ ee-kwuhl ]

/ ˈi kwəl /

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See synonyms for: equal / equaling / equalled / equalling on Thesaurus.com

adjective

as great as; the same as (often followed by to or with): The velocity of sound is not equal to that of light.

like or alike in quantity, degree, value, etc.; of the same rank, ability, merit, etc.: two students of equal brilliance.

evenly proportioned or balanced: an equal contest.

uniform in operation or effect: equal laws.

adequate or sufficient in quantity or degree: The supply is equal to the demand.

having adequate ability, means, or other characteristics: He was equal to the task.Their English boots were not equal to the rigors of a Canadian winter.

tranquil or undisturbed: to confront death with an equal mind.

impartial or equitable.

Archaic. having an even surface; level: the treeless, equal plains.

noun

a person or thing that is equal to another, as in quantity, degree, value, rank, or ability.

verb (used with object), e·qualed, e·qual·ing or (especially British) e·qualled, e·qual·ling.

to be or become equal to; meet or match: So far the rate of production doesn't equal the demand.If A equals B and B equals C, then A equals C.

to make or do something equal to: No matter how he tries, he can't equal his brother's achievements.

Archaic. to make equal; equalize.

Obsolete. to recompense fully.

OTHER WORDS FOR equal

2 proportionate, commensurate, coordinate, correspondent.

4 even, uniform, regular, invariant, unvarying.

6 suited, fitted.

10 coequal, peer, compeer, match, equivalent, fellow.

See synonyms for equal on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR equal

2 different.

6 inadequate.

See antonyms for equal on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of equal

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English adjective from Latin aequālis “equal, like,” equivalent to aequ(us) “even, plain, just” + -ālis -al¹

synonym study for equal

2. Equal, equivalent, tantamount imply a correspondence between two or more things. Equal indicates a correspondence in all respects or in a particular respect: A dime is equal to 10 cents (that is, in purchasing power). Equivalent indicates a correspondence in one or more respects, but not in all: An egg is said to be the equivalent of a pound of meat in nutritive value. Tantamount, a word of limited application, is used of immaterial things that are equivalent: The prisoner's refusal to answer was tantamount to an admission of guilt.

usage note for equal

1-8. See unique.

OTHER WORDS FROM equal

non·e·qual, adjective, nounqua·si-e·qual, adjectivequa·si-e·qual·ly, adverbsub·e·qual, adjective

sub·e·qual·ly, adverb

Words nearby equal

EPZ, EQ, EQC, eqpt., equable, equal, equal-area, equal-area projection, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, equali, equalitarian

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use equal in a sentence

The small realtor in Billings, MT, paying Google pennies is part of the advertising ecosystem, and has equal data access rights as the billion dollar travel entity.
This decade’s most important marketing question: What data rights do advertisers possess?|Kirk Williams|September 17, 2020|Search Engine Land
Under WTO regulations, members must treat each other as equals.
Trump’s prolonged assault on WTO means its ruling against Chinese tariffs is essentially moot|eamonbarrett|September 16, 2020|Fortune
The virtual nature of Disrupt 2020 equals a global scope — and our biggest Disrupt ever.
Five more reasons you should attend Disrupt 2020|Alexandra Ames|September 11, 2020|TechCrunch
Using all the players that show up, they want to create exactly two teams of equal size.
Can You Reach The Summit First?|Zach Wissner-Gross|September 11, 2020|FiveThirtyEight

You cannot fully believe both that all the races are equal and that your favorite race is superior.
Believing in Monsters: David Livingstone Smith on the Subhuman - Facts So Romantic|Eric Schwitzgebel|September 11, 2020|Nautilus
Taraji manages to bring an equal measure of truth to the mother in her character.
‘Empire’ Review: Hip-Hop Musical Chairs with an Insane Soap Opera Twist|Judnick Mayard|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Both parties are now equal opportunity offenders when it comes to gaming the system.
The 100 Rich People Who Run America|Mark McKinnon|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Although Southern did not automatically equal neo-Confederate, at times the distinction could easily get lost.
Steve Scalise Shows There’s a Fine Line Between Confederate & Southern|Lloyd Green|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
However, not all awful, astoundingly dumb political memes are created equal.
Political Memes That Absolutely Must Die in 2015|Asawin Suebsaeng|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But it never has been the site of equal mercy, and it never will be.
No Gods, No Cops, No Masters|James Poulos|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Other things being equal, the volume of voice used measures the value that the mind puts upon the thought.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
This city stands upon almost two equal parts on each side the river that passes through.
Gulliver's Travels|Jonathan Swift
Other factors being equal, the amount of urea indicates the activity of metabolism.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
He considered her the equal to any Newbolt that ever straddled a horse and rode over from Kentucky.
The Bondboy|George W. (George Washington) Ogden
For comparison, the gas may be passed through a test-tube containing an equal amount of distilled water.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd

British Dictionary definitions for equal

equal

/ (ˈiːkwəl) /

adjective

(often foll by to or with) identical in size, quantity, degree, intensity, etc; the same (as)

having identical privileges, rights, status, etcall men are equal before the law

having uniform effect or applicationequal opportunities

evenly balanced or proportionedthe game was equal between the teams

(usually foll by to) having the necessary or adequate strength, ability, means, etc (for)to be equal to one's work

another word for equivalent (def. 3a)

noun

a person or thing equal to another, esp in merit, ability, etche has no equal when it comes to boxing

verb equals, equalling or equalled or US equals, equaling or equaled

(tr) to be equal to; correspond to; matchmy offer equals his

(intr usually foll by out) to become equal or level

(tr) to make, perform, or do something equal toto equal the world record

(tr) archaic to make equal

Derived forms of equal

equally, adverb

Word Origin for equal

C14: from Latin aequālis, from aequus level, of obscure origin

usage for equal

The use of more equal as in from now on their relationship will be a more equal one is acceptable in modern English usage. Equally is preferred to equally as in sentences such as reassuring the victims is equally important. Just as is preferred to equally as in sentences such as their surprise was just as great as his

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with equal

equal

In addition to the idioms beginning with equal

equal to

also see:

other things being equal
separate but equal

equal

OTHER WORDS FOR equal

OPPOSITES FOR equal

Origin of equal

synonym study for equal

usage note for equal

OTHER WORDS FROM equal

Words nearby equal

Words related to equal

How to use equal in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for equal

Derived forms of equal

Word Origin for equal

usage for equal

Other Idioms and Phrases with equal