Etymology
Origin of equally
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at 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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Furthermore, Lusardi added, not all forms of financial education are equally effective.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 8, 2026
Despite the song’s look back and the equally autobiographical ballad “L.E.S. Girl” later on, the record as a whole unfolds in the present moment.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 7, 2026
The briskly paced film is equally entertaining while recounting her wild adventures of yore and while following her around Manhattan and Fire Island today.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 7, 2026
But fans back home have an equally daunting task - surviving that 01:00 kick-off on a Monday morning.
From BBC • Jul. 5, 2026
As a dutiful aunt I tried to love all my nieces and nephews equally.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
