even

See also: Even, éven, and even-

even - English

Alternative forms

  • eben (etymology 1: adverb, adjective)
  • e'en (etymology 1: adverb, etymology 2: noun; contraction, poetic, archaic)

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA: /ˈiːvən/
  • (US) IPA: /ˈivən/, /ˈivn̩/
  • Hyphenation: e‧ven

Adjective

even (comparative more even, superlative most even)

  1. Flat and level.
    • Clear out those rocks. The surface must be even.
  2. Without great variation.
    • Despite her fear, she spoke in an even voice.
  3. Equal in proportion, quantity, size, etc.
    • The distribution of food must be even.
    • Call it even.
  4. (not comparable, of an integer) Divisible by two.
    • Four, fourteen and forty are even numbers.
  5. (of a number) Convenient for rounding other numbers to; for example, ending in a zero.
  6. On equal monetary terms; neither owing nor being owed.
  7. (colloquial) On equal terms of a moral sort; quits.
    • You biffed me back at the barn, and I biffed you here—so now we're even.
  8. Parallel; on a level; reaching the same limit.
  9. (obsolete) Without an irregularity, flaw, or blemish; pure.
  10. (obsolete) Associate; fellow; of the same condition.

Usage notes

  • Because of confusion with the "divisible by two" sense, use of even to mean "convenient for rounding" is rare; the synonym round is more common for this sense.

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • (flat and level): uneven
  • (divisible by two): odd

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

even (third-person singular simple present evens, present participle evening, simple past and past participle evened)

  1. (transitive) To make flat and level.
    • We need to even this playing field; the west goal is too low.
  2. (transitive, obsolete) To equal or equate; to make the same.
  3. (intransitive, obsolete) To be equal.
    • Thrice nine evens twenty seven.
    • 1609, Richard Carew, The Survey of Cornwall. [], new edition, London: [] B. Law, []; Penzance, Cornwall: J. Hewett, published 1769, →OCLC:
    • (transitive, obsolete) To place in an equal state, as to obligation, or in a state in which nothing is due on either side; to balance, as accounts; to make quits.
      • We need to even the score.
    • (transitive, obsolete) To set right; to complete.
    • (transitive, obsolete) To act up to; to keep pace with.

    Synonyms

    Derived terms

    Translations

    Adverb

    even (not comparable)

    1. (archaic) Exactly, just, fully.
      • I fulfilled my instructions even as I had promised.
      • You are leaving tonight?Even so.
      • This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you.
    2. In reality; implying an extreme example in the case mentioned, as compared to the implied reality.
      • Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn sometimes.
      • Did you even make it through the front door?
      • That was before I was even born.
    3. Emphasizing a comparative.
      • I was strong before, but now I am even stronger.
    4. Signalling a correction of one's previous utterance; rather, that is.
      • My favorite actor is Jack Nicklaus. Jack Nicholson, even.

    Synonyms

    • (exactly, just, fully): definitely, precisely; see also exactly
    • (implying extreme example): so much as
    • (correction to previous utterance): See in other words

    Derived terms

    Translations

    Noun

    even (plural evens)

    1. (mathematics, diminutive) An even number.
      • So let's see. There are two evens here and three odds.

    Translations


    Noun

    even (plural evens)

    1. (archaic or poetic) Evening.

    Synonyms

    Derived terms

    Translations


    Anagrams

    even - Chinese

    Pronunciation

    • Cantonese (Jyutping): i1 fan4

    Conjunction

    even

    1. (Hong Kong Cantonese) even if

    Synonyms

    even - Dutch

    Alternative forms

    • effen (for the temporal senses of the adverb; colloquial; standard)
    • effe (for the temporal senses of the adverb; colloquial; non-standard)
    • ff (for the temporal senses of the adverb; slang, common chat abbreviation)

    Pronunciation

    • IPA: /ˈeː.və(n)/
    • Hyphenation: even

    Adverb

    even

    1. shortly, briefly
      • Ik zal even voor u kijken.
        • I shall have a look for you shortly.
    2. for a short period, for a while
      • In de tweede helft van de 19e eeuw bloeide Vollenhove weer even op.
        • In the second half of the 19th century, Vollenhove flourished again for a while.
    3. for a moment; modal particle indicating that the speaker expects that something will require little time or effort.
      • Zou je even de deur voor me dicht willen doen?
        • Could you please close the door for me (for a moment)?
    4. just as, to the same degree (used with an adjective)
      • In het midden van de vloer stond een tafel van wel vier meter hoog en een even grote stoel er bij.
        • In the middle of the floor there stood a four-metre tall table and a chair just as large beside it.
    5. (Netherlands) quite, rather
      • Die is even kwaad!
        • He's rather angry!

    Synonyms

    Descendants

    • Javindo: efen
    • Negerhollands: even, eeven
    • Caribbean Javanese: éfe (via Sranan Tongo)
    • Kwinti: even

    Adjective

    even (not comparable)

    1. even, opposite of odd

    Inflection

    Inflection of even
    uninflected even
    inflected even
    comparative

    Antonyms

    Derived terms

    Anagrams

    even - Middle Dutch

    Adjective

    ēven

    1. even, equal

    Inflection

    This adjective needs an inflection-table template.

    Descendants

    • Dutch: even
    • Limburgish: aeve

    Adverb

    ēven

    1. just as, equally

    Descendants

    even - Middle English

    Alternative forms

    Pronunciation

    • IPA: /ˈɛːvən/

    Adverb

    even

    1. smoothly, evenly
    2. impartially, justly

    Descendants


    Alternative forms

    Pronunciation

    • IPA: /ˈɛːvə(n)/

    Noun

    even (plural evenes)

    1. eve

    Descendants


    Noun

    even

    1. Alternative form of hevene

    even - Norwegian Nynorsk

    Noun

    even m

    1. definite singular of eve

    Anagrams

    Meaning and Definition of even
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