even

1 of 4

adjective

ˈē-vən

: having a horizontal surface : flat

even ground

: being without break, indentation, or irregularity : smooth

: being in the same plane or line

: free from variation : uniform

his disposition was even

: level sense 4

: equal, fair

an even exchange

b(1)

: leaving nothing due on either side : square

we will not be even until you repay my visit

(2)

: fully revenged

: being in equilibrium : balanced

specifically : showing neither profit nor loss

obsolete : candid

: being any of the integers (such as −2, 0, and +2) that are divisible by two without leaving a remainder

: marked by an even number

: being a mathematical function such that f(x) = f(−x) where the value remains unchanged if the sign of the independent variable is reversed

: exact, precise

an even dollar

: as likely as not : fifty-fifty

an even chance of winning

evenly adverb

evenness

ˈē-vən-nəs

noun

even

2 of 4

adverb

—used as an intensive to stress an extreme or highly unlikely condition or instance

so simple even a child can do it

—used as an intensive to stress the comparative degree

she did even better

—used as an intensive to indicate a small or minimum amount

didn't even try

—used as an intensive to emphasize the identity or character of something

forgot his car keys and even left the engine running

: to a degree that extends : fully, quite

faithful even unto death

: at the very time

raining even as the sun came out

: exactly, precisely

even

3 of 4

verb

evened; evening ˈēv-niŋ

ˈē-və-

transitive verb

: to make even

intransitive verb

: to become even

evener

ˈēv-nər

ˈē-və-

noun

even

4 of 4

noun

archaic

: evening

Phrases

on an even keel or less commonly on even keel

: in a sound or stable condition

Choose the Right Synonym for even

level, flat, plane, even, smooth mean having a surface without bends, curves, or irregularities.

level applies to a horizontal surface that lies on a line parallel with the horizon.

the vast prairies are nearly level

flat applies to a surface devoid of noticeable curvatures, prominences, or depressions.

the work surface must be flat

plane applies to any real or imaginary flat surface in which a straight line between any two points on it lies wholly within that surface.

the plane sides of a crystal

even applies to a surface that is noticeably flat or level or to a line that is observably straight.

trim the hedge so it is even

smooth applies especially to a polished surface free of irregularities.

a smooth skating rink

steady, even, equable mean not varying throughout a course or extent.

steady implies lack of fluctuation or interruption of movement.

steady progress

even suggests a lack of variation in quality or character.

an even distribution

equable implies lack of extremes or of sudden sharp changes.

maintain an equable temper

Example Sentences

Adjective We finally reached even ground after the long climb. They slowed down and waited for him to draw even. She spoke with a calm, even voice. the even beat of the drum Adverb the blue whale is a huge, even awesome animal by any measure I will love you even to the end of time. Verb even the filling before adding the top layer of the cake the contention that producing more arms will even us with the enemy and therefore make us more secure See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Trump’s base against him, or will the base have the power to make even Mighty Rupert capitulate to Trumpism one more time?

Michael Tomasky, The New Republic, 28 Nov. 2022 Much like last season’s playoff game, both teams have an even advantage through different sides of the ball.

Mohammad Ahmad, cleveland, 26 Nov. 2022 Dan’s murder in even increments written on sequential checks.

Fox News, 25 Nov. 2022 That is just below the high-water mark set a year ago and well above the historical average, which is nearly even.

Eric Wallerstein, WSJ, 21 Nov. 2022 This type of foundation aims to minimize pores and blemishes as well as correct tone for a more even base.

Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 21 Nov. 2022 The following year, the tournament modified its format to no longer include Division II Chaminade, officially the host school, in even years — adding yet another Div.

Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Nov. 2022 But the outcome fell far short of the GOP’s best-case scenarios of netting up to seven more seats in the House to reach an even power split and three or four seats in the Senate to take majority control away from the Democrats.

oregonlive, 17 Nov. 2022 There is no direct historical model for who shows up in an even-year mayoral general in L.A.

Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2022

Adverb

Maintain your grip on the band with your left hand, too, holding at roughly even with your right elbow.

Tony Gentilcore, Men's Health, 30 Nov. 2022 Samu Salminen got the Huskies even with a power-play goal at 6:48 of the second.

Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 30 Nov. 2022 But the win, plus the two goals, pulled Mexico even with Poland — a 2-0 loser to Argentina — in the table and on goal differential heading into stoppage time.

Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 30 Nov. 2022 The visitors finally pulled even with 13:20 to go when Darrion Trammell fouled Justin Hohn attempting an off-balance corner 3, and Hohn made all three free throws.

Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Nov. 2022 But the Americans didn’t break, even with a vocal pro-Iran crowd willing them into mistakes.

Joshua Robinson, WSJ, 29 Nov. 2022 And even with Curry coming into the season at age 34, his team entered the season as a contender to repeat.

C.j. Holmes, San Francisco Chronicle, 29 Nov. 2022 Noah told Smith that even with the controversy surrounding the slap and the significant criticism that arose from it, to him, the incident seemed to be a response to years of unrelated happenings in the actor's life.

Li Cohen, CBS News, 29 Nov. 2022 The other team joining the field is Michigan off its impressive defeat of Ohio State that puts the Wolverines effectively in the field even with one more game left against Purdue in the Big Ten title game.

Erick Smith, USA TODAY, 29 Nov. 2022

Verb

Over hundreds of thousands of examples, these types of errors tend to even out to produce reliable indications of patterns.

Steve Eder, New York Times, 22 Oct. 2022 Fluffing it up in the dryer with no heat for a few minutes might help to even out the fill.

Maria V. Charbonneaux, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2022 But these advantages seem to even out in adulthood.

Chiara Dello Joio, The Atlantic, 1 Nov. 2022 One way to increase the probability of success could be to even out all the button presses in some way.

Pradeep Mutalik, Quanta Magazine, 30 Sep. 2022 Flip the cushions around periodically to even out the wear and tear of the couch.

Megan Boettcher, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Sep. 2022 Use a diffuser to even out your curl pattern and add more body.

Jessica Teich, Good Housekeeping, 5 Aug. 2022 The West has been too slow, and the need to even out the artillery disparity is urgent.

Jillian Kay Melchior, WSJ, 12 July 2022 In 2020, talks began to even out the hilly area to comply with ADA guidelines, as well as renovate the existing basketball and tennis courts.

David Abel, BostonGlobe.com, 2 July 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'even.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Old English efen; akin to Old High German eban even

Adverb

Middle English, from Old English efne, from efen, adjective

Noun

Middle English even, eve, from Old English ǣfen

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2c

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of even was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Even.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/even. Accessed 7 Dec. 2022.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

even

1 of 4 noun

ˈē-vən

archaic

: evening

even

2 of 4 adjective

: having a horizontal surface : flat

even ground

: being without breaks or bumps : smooth

an even line

: being on the same line or level

houses even with each other

: equal in size, number, or amount

even distances apart

: staying the same over a period of time

even breathing

: without advantage on either side : fair

start out even

an even trade

: leaving nothing due on either side

now we're even

: showing neither profit nor loss

: being any number that can be divided by two without remainder

2, 4, 6, 8, … are even numbers

: marked by an even number

an even page of a book

: being whole or exact without a remainder or fractional part

an even dollar

an even dozen

evenly adverb

evenness

-vən-nəs

noun

even

3 of 4 adverb

: exactly sense 1, precisely

believes even as we do

: to a degree that extends : fully

faithful even to death

: at the very same time

raining even as the sun came out

: indeed

willing, even eager, to help

—used to stress an extreme or highly unlikely condition or instance

so simple even a child can do it

: to a greater extent or degree

even better

—used to stress the smallness of an amount or effort

didn't even offer to helpgave it not even a glance

even

4 of 4 verb

evened; evening ˈēv-(ə-)niŋ

: to make or become even

evener

ˈēv-(ə-)nər

noun

Last Updated: 1 Dec 2022 - Updated example sentences

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even

adjective

adverb

verb

noun

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near even

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition