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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Synonym Usage

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

To listen today to the song, which spent four weeks at No. 1 and earned a Grammy nomination for female pop vocal performance, is to assume you’ve already absorbed every drop of its melodrama.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 9, 2026

Speaking to journalists he added: "I think all of you should put every single pressure on the English lads."

From BBC • Jul. 9, 2026

As law, policy and regulation have penetrated deeper into every facet of life, the First Amendment right “to petition the government for the redress of grievances” has become of utmost importance.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 9, 2026

MSG’s appeal was obvious: drone and paparazzi-proof, security personnel at every entrance, and capable of holding an estimated 1,000 guests.

From Salon • Jul. 9, 2026

The fact is, I’ve been through just about every emotion there is.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

Related Words

• all