every

[ ev-ree ]

/ ˈɛv ri /

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adjective

being one of a group or series taken collectively; each: We go there every day.

all possible; the greatest possible degree of: every prospect of success.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about every

every bit, in every respect; completely: This is every bit as good as she says it is.

every now and then, on occasion; from time to time: She bakes her own bread every now and then.Also every once in a while, every so often.

every other, every second; every alternate: milk deliveries every other day.

every which way, in all directions; in disorganized fashion: I brushed against the table, and the cards fell every which way.

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, each

synonym study for every

1. See each.

Words nearby every

eversion, evert, evertor, everwhere, everwhich, every, every bit, everybody, Everybody will be world famous for fifteen minutes, Every cloud has a silver lining, everyday

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

How to use every in a sentence

Fortunately, the brain is suspended in cerebrospinal fluid designed to buffer the motions of every-day life.
Brain Bleed: Why Michael Schumacher’s Helmet Wasn’t Enough|Dr. Anand Veeravagu, MD, Tej Azad|January 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“I am not going to have a monthly or every-three-months conversation about whether or not we pay our bills,” Obama said.
Obama Talks Tough on Budget, Guns|Howard Kurtz|January 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST
“Beverage wine” is a term commonly used for inexpensive wine purchased for every-night dinners.
What Women Drink|Sophie Menin|August 22, 2011|DAILY BEAST
It is an every-day spectacle; it would not seem at first sight to contain material for a picture.
Bastien Lepage|Fr. Crastre

It has got to be such an every-day thing that nobody looks surprised or pays any attention to him.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
The distant sound, coming from the world of men and every-day affairs, seemed to break the spell.
Uncanny Tales|Various
In like manner we perceive marks of design and intelligence in the countless contrivances and instruments used in every-day life.
Gospel Philosophy|J. H. Ward
True politeness, as I understand it, is kindness and courtesy of feeling brought into every-day exercise.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness|Florence Hartley

British Dictionary definitions for every

every

/ (ˈɛvrɪ) /

determiner

each one (of the class specified), without exceptionevery child knows it

(not used with a negative) the greatest or best possibleevery hope of success

each: used before a noun phrase to indicate the recurrent, intermittent, or serial nature of a thingevery third day; every now and then; every so often

every bit (used in comparisons with as) quite; just; equallyevery bit as funny as the other show

every other each alternate; every secondevery other day

every which way

in all directions; everywhereI looked every which way for you
US and Canadian from all sidesstones coming at me every which way

Word Origin for every

C15 everich, from Old English ǣfre ǣlc, from ǣfre ever + ǣlc each

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 every

every

In addition to the idioms beginning with every

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:

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

every

Idioms about every

Origin of every

synonym study for every

Words nearby every

Words related to every

How to use every in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for every

Word Origin for every

Other Idioms and Phrases with every