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definitions

ever

[ ev-er ]
/ ˈɛv ər /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR ever ON THESAURUS.COM

adverb

at all times; always: an ever-present danger; He is ever ready to find fault.
continuously: ever since then.
at any time: Have you ever seen anything like it?
in any possible case; by any chance; at all (often used to intensify or emphasize a phrase or an emotional reaction as surprise or impatience): How did you ever manage to do it? If the band ever plays again, we will dance.

adjective

South Midland and Southern U.S. every: She rises early ever morning.

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RELATED WORDS

regularly, forever, constantly, continually, consistently, usually, anytime, eternally, evermore, incessantly, invariably, perpetually, relentlessly, unceasingly

Nearby words

  1. eventual,
  2. eventuality,
  3. eventually,
  4. eventuate,
  5. eventus,
  6. ever and again,
  7. everbearing,
  8. everblooming,
  9. everdur,
  10. everest

Idioms

    ever and again, now and then; from time to time.Also Literary, ever and anon.
    ever so, to a great extent or degree; exceedingly: They were ever so kind to me.

Origin of ever

before 1000; Middle English; Old English ǣfre
ANTONYMS FOR ever
1. never.
SEE MORE ANTONYMS FOR ever ON THESAURUS.COM
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for ever

ever

/ (ˈɛvə) /

adverb

See also forever

Word Origin for ever

Old English ǣfre, of uncertain origin
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
Word Origin and History for ever

ever

adv.

Old English æfre "ever, at any time, always;" no cognates in any other Germanic language; perhaps a contraction of a in feore, literally "ever in life" (the expression a to fore is common in Old English writings).

First element is almost certainly related to Old English a "always, ever," from Proto-Germanic *aiwo, from PIE *aiw- "vital force, life, long life, eternity." (see eon). Liberman suggests second element is comparative adjectival suffix -re.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with ever

ever

In addition to the idiom beginning with ever

  • ever and again
  • every bit
  • every cloud has a silver lining
  • every dog has its day
  • every inch
  • every last one
  • every little bit helps
  • every man for himself
  • every man has his price
  • every minute counts
  • every nook and cranny
  • every now and then
  • every other
  • every single one
  • every so often
  • every time one turns around
  • every Tom, Dick, and Harry
  • every which way

also see:

  • hardly ever
  • live happily ever after
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.