every

American  

[ev-ree] / ˈɛv ri /

adjective

1. being one of a group or series taken collectively; each.

   We go there every day.

2. all possible; the greatest possible degree of.

   every prospect of success.

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idioms

1. every bit, in every respect; completely.

   This is every bit as good as she says it is.

2. every which way, in all directions; in disorganized fashion.

   I brushed against the table, and the cards fell every which way.

3. every now and then, on occasion; from time to time: Also every once in a while, every so often.

   She bakes her own bread every now and then.

4. every other, every second; every alternate.

   milk deliveries every other day.

every British  

/ ˈɛvrɪ /

determiner

1. each one (of the class specified), without exception

   every child knows it

2. (not used with a negative) the greatest or best possible

   every hope of success

3. each: used before a noun phrase to indicate the recurrent, intermittent, or serial nature of a thing

   every third day

   every now and then

   every so often

4. (used in comparisons with as) quite; just; equally

   every bit as funny as the other show

5. each alternate; every second

   every other day

6. 1. in all directions; everywhere

      I looked every which way for you

   2. from all sides

      stones coming at me every which way

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every More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing every

• at every turn
• each and every
• finger in the (every) pie
• living soul, every
• nook and cranny, every

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Related Words

See each.

Etymology

Origin of every

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English every, everich, Old English ǣfre ǣlc, literally “ever each” (the first element of the phrase reinforcing the second); see ever ( def. ), each

Explanation

Use the adjective every to talk about all examples of something or all the members of a group. If you invite every classmate to your party, you're asking all 30 of them to come. When you plan a trip to visit every national park in the US, you are intending to travel to 59 different parks — all of them. When you talk about time, you can also use every to explain how often an event occurs: "I've been waking up every hour lately." Every was originally a contraction of æfre ælc, "each of a group" or "ever each" in Old English.

Example Sentences

"Developers bear a particular ethical and spiritual responsibility, for every design choice reflects a vision of humanity," he said.

From BBC • May 25, 2026

It relies on what he calls the hero approach: a single manager named Victor who makes sure every order is filled correctly.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026

However, the response was not the same in every neuron.

From Science Daily • May 25, 2026

Since every major party presidential candidate had voluntarily released their tax returns over the past four decades, it was assumed he would follow suit.

From Salon • May 25, 2026

Clare gestured to the world around them, the prism of light deepening by the minute, the fitful winds blowing their fur in every direction.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

Related Words

• all