even

¹even

noun \ˈē-vən\

Definition of EVEN

archaic

: evening

Origin of EVEN

Middle English even, eve, from Old English ǣfen

First Known Use: before 12th century

²even

adjective

Definition of EVEN

1

a : having a horizontal surface : flat <even ground>

b : being without break, indentation, or irregularity : smooth

c : being in the same plane or line

2

a : free from variation : uniform <his disposition was even>

b : level 4

3

a : 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

c : being in equilibrium : balanced; specifically : showing neither profit nor loss

d obsolete : candid

4

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

b : marked by an even number

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

5

: exact, precise <an even dollar>

6

: as likely as not : fifty-fifty <an even chance of winning>

— even·ly adverb

— even·ness \-vən-nəs\ noun

— on an even keel also on even keel

: in a sound or stable condition

Examples of EVEN

1. We finally reached even ground after the long climb.
2. They slowed down and waited for him to draw even.
3. She spoke with a calm, even voice.
4. the even beat of the drum

Origin of EVEN

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

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to EVEN

Synonyms

exact, flat, precise, round

Antonyms

bumpy, coarse, lumpy, rough, uneven, unsmoothed

Related Words

exact, uniform; aligned (also alined), regular, true; horizontal, tabular; plumb, straight, vertical

Near Antonyms

approximate, comparative, near, relative; imprecise

See Synonym Discussion at level, steady

³even

adverb

Definition of EVEN

1

a : exactly, precisely

b : to a degree that extends : fully, quite <faithful even unto death>

c : at the very time <raining even as the sun came out>

2

a —used as an intensive to emphasize the identity or character of something <forgot his car keys and even left the engine running>

b —used as an intensive to stress an extreme or highly unlikely condition or instance <so simple even a child can do it>

c —used as an intensive to stress the comparative degree <she did even better>

d —used as an intensive to indicate a small or minimum amount <didn't even try>

Examples of EVEN

1. <the blue whale is a huge, even awesome animal by any measure>
2. <I will love you even to the end of time.>

Origin of EVEN

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

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to EVEN

Synonyms

indeed, nay, truly, verily, yea, in fact, in reality, in truth

Antonyms

half, halfway, incompletely, part, partially, partly

Related Words

assuredly, certainly, decidedly, definitely, doubtless, incontestably, incontrovertibly, indisputably, positively, really, surely, truly, undeniably, undoubtedly, unquestionably

Near Antonyms

barely, hardly, just, kind of, marginally, minimally, scarcely, slightly, superficially; approximately, roughly, somewhat

⁴even

verb

evenedeven·ing \ˈēv-niŋ, ˈē-və-\

Definition of EVEN

transitive verb

: to make even

intransitive verb

: to become even

— even·er \-nər\ noun

Examples of EVEN

1. <even the filling before adding the top layer of the cake>
2. <the contention that producing more arms will even us with the enemy and therefore make us more secure>

First Known Use of EVEN

13th century

Related to EVEN

Synonyms

flatten, level, plane, smooth, smoothen

Antonyms

rough, roughen

Related Words

clip, crop, pare, prune, shave, trim; lay, press, spread; card, comb, rake; surface

Near Antonyms

coarsen, rumple, wrinkle; bend, kink; dent, pit