evergreen
Americanadjective
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(of trees, shrubs, etc.) having green leaves throughout the entire year, the leaves of the past season not being shed until after the new foliage has been completely formed.
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retaining its relevance, popularity, usefulness, etc.; enduring.
Some toys are evergreen favorites.
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Law. (of a contract or contract clause) specifying automatic renewal at the end of the term.
noun
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an evergreen plant.
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evergreens, evergreen twigs or branches used for decoration.
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something that is evergreen, or enduringly fresh.
The paper publishes decorating tips or other archived evergreens on slow news days.
adjective
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(of certain trees and shrubs) bearing foliage throughout the year; continually shedding and replacing leaves Compare deciduous
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remaining fresh and vital
noun
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Having green leaves or needles all year. Evergreen trees lose their leaves individually on an ongoing basis, rather than losing all of them in a short period at the end of a growing season in the manner of deciduous trees.
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Compare deciduous
Etymology
Origin of evergreen
Explanation
An evergreen is a tree or plant that doesn't shed its leaves in the winter, but stays green all year. A Christmas tree is an evergreen. Even in the middle of winter, when so many trees in cold climates have bare branches, evergreens brighten up the landscape with vibrant green needles or leaves. Fir trees, holly bushes, and eucalyptus shrubs are all examples of evergreens. You can describe all of them using evergreen as an adjective as well: "I made the wreath using evergreen branches."
Vocabulary lists containing evergreen
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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.
But the other kind of film, which is why we are in business, is the evergreen.
From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026
Your client base, meanwhile, is evergreen — or, to employ corporate lingo, “sticky.”
From MarketWatch • May 20, 2026
The sequel’s tone is starkly different from the original film; it’s far less of an evergreen fashion fantasy than a timely drama, charting a course through the media and art world’s murky futures.
From Salon • May 6, 2026
Its species name, cedrus, refers to cedar trees, evergreen conifers similar to those that existed in Late Triassic forests.
From Science Daily • Apr. 23, 2026
The bushes were dark evergreen and aromatic and the many buds were waxen green and folded up against the light.
From "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding
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.
