evergreen

American  

[ev-er-green] / ˈɛv ərˌgrin /

adjective

1. (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.

2. retaining its relevance, popularity, usefulness, etc.; enduring.

   Some toys are evergreen favorites.

3. Law. (of a contract or contract clause) specifying automatic renewal at the end of the term.

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noun

evergreens plural

1. an evergreen plant.

2. evergreens, evergreen twigs or branches used for decoration.

3. something that is evergreen, or enduringly fresh.

   The paper publishes decorating tips or other archived evergreens on slow news days.

evergreen British  

/ ˈɛvəˌɡriːn /

adjective

1. (of certain trees and shrubs) bearing foliage throughout the year; continually shedding and replacing leaves Compare deciduous

2. remaining fresh and vital

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noun

1. an evergreen tree or shrub

evergreen Scientific  

/ ĕv′ər-grēn′ /

1. 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.

2. Compare deciduous

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1. An evergreen tree, shrub, or plant, such as the pine, holly, or rhododendron.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• evergreens
  plural

Etymology

Origin of evergreen

First recorded in 1545–55; ever + green

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."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

evergreen evergreens

OK, the fact that Jennifer Coolidge steals the show also helps, as does the stunning cuteness of Buster the teacup chihuahua, along with the evergreen pizazz of the bend-and-snap sequence.

From Salon ● Jul. 6, 2026

While the tech has changed since then, the principles the court trumpeted today are evergreen.

From Slate ● Jul. 1, 2026

The evergreen 39-year-old remains a joy to watch with his skill, awareness and intelligence and he keeps producing on the biggest stage.

From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2026

The Swiss private-equity company said it anticipates inflows in evergreen funds, which offer wealthy investors access to assets such as private equity and private credit, to exceed outflows in the first half of this year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 4, 2026

The town of Kingston is straight ahead, and thickets of evergreen trees stand guard in every direction.

From "I Can Make This Promise" by Christine Day

The cool blues of “Winter” are raked through with rich purple, as hints of evergreens creep in from the edges.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 28, 2025

Ancient civilizations celebrated the winter solstice with evergreens and fires to mark the triumph of light over darkness.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 17, 2024

“Be honest,” Dimon said, sitting against a backdrop of snow-dusted evergreens, dressed casually in a dark blazer and polo shirt.

From New York Times ● Apr. 7, 2024

In other words, our Christmas evergreens are actually not that "green" at all.

From BBC ● Dec. 22, 2023

Deep in the forest, high in the mountains—amidst the evergreens, the firs, the spruces—sits a giant panda.

From "Camp Panda" by Catherine Thimmesh

Related Words

• fir
• hedge
• pine