ever

adverb

ev·​er ˈe-vər 

1

: always

ever striving to improve

the ever-increasing population

2

a

: at any time

more than ever before

b

: in any way

how can I ever thank you

3

—used as an intensive

looks ever so angry

am I ever happy to see you

Phrases

ever and anon

: from time to time : occasionally

Synonyms

• forever
• always
• permanently

Examples of ever in a Sentence

The crime rate is higher now than it has ever been.

He's forgotten all he's ever learned about history.

Have you ever been to France?

She's doing fine and is as pretty as ever.

No one has ever seen a better example of woodwork.

Has this ever been done before?

Did it ever occur to you that I might like more myself?

That was the worst movie I ever saw.

Technology in recent years has become ever more sophisticated.

The deadline draws ever closer.

Recent Examples on the Web

Such concepts—risk scoring, escalation processes, regulatory compliance mapping and ongoing monitoring—become ever more directly related to smart factories and global supply chains. —Ramachander Rao Thallada, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025

Dakota Johnson and Kate Hudson have been friends for…ever? —Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 1 July 2025

During this period, the telescope will zip its view across the sky in a carefully choreographed dance that will ultimately produce the best high-definition movie of the heavens that humanity has ever conceived. —Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 1 July 2025

The Red Devils completed their worst Premier League campaign ever and will miss out on European competition next season, which will hurt the company’s ticket, media and sponsorship revenue. —Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 1 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English ǣfre

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing ever

• as ever
• ever after
• ever changing
• ever since
• ever so
• ever so slightly
• ever such
• hardly ever
• if it's the last thing someone (ever) does
• lived happily ever after
• live happily ever after
• never ever
• rarely/seldom ever
• rarely/seldom if ever
• Yours ever

Rhymes for ever

• bever
• clever
• haver
• lever
• never
• rever
• sever
• cantilever
• howsoever
• whatsoever
• whensoever
• wheresoever

Kids Definition

ever

adverb

ev·​er ˈev-ər 

1

: at all times : always

ever faithful

2

a

: at any time

has this ever been done before

b

: in any way : at all

how can I ever thank you

3

—used especially with so to give more force to a word

thank you ever so much