definitions

every

[ ev-ree ]
/ ˈɛv ri /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR every ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

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RELATED WORDS

haphazardly, randomly, everywhere, irregularly, everyway, indiscriminately

Nearby words

eversion, evert, evertor, everwhere, everwhich, every, every bit, every cloud has a silver lining, every dog has his day, every dog has its day, every inch

Idioms

Origin of every

1125–75; Middle English every, everich, Old English ǣfre ǣlc ever each

Synonym study

1. See each.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for every which way

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
  1. in all directions; everywhereI looked every which way for you
  2. 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

Idioms and Phrases with every which way (1 of 2)

every which way

In all directions, as in Papers were blowing every which way. [Colloquial; mid-1800s]

Idioms and Phrases with every which way (2 of 2)

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
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.