evident

adjective

ev·​i·​dent ˈe-və-dənt 

-və-ˌdent

: clear to the vision or understanding

Synonyms

• apparent
• presumed
• possible
• obvious

Choose the Right Synonym for evident

evident, manifest, patent, distinct, obvious, apparent, plain, clear mean readily perceived or apprehended.

evident implies presence of visible signs that lead one to a definite conclusion.

an evident fondness for sweets

manifest implies an external display so evident that little or no inference is required.

manifest hostility

patent applies to a cause, effect, or significant feature that is clear and unmistakable once attention has been directed to it.

patent defects

distinct implies such sharpness of outline or definition that no unusual effort to see or hear or comprehend is required.

a distinct refusal

obvious implies such ease in discovering that it often suggests conspicuousness or little need for perspicacity in the observer.

the obvious solution

apparent is very close to evident except that it may imply more conscious exercise of inference.

for no apparent reason

plain suggests lack of intricacy, complexity, or elaboration.

her feelings about him are plain

clear implies an absence of anything that confuses the mind or obscures the pattern.

a clear explanation

Examples of evident in a Sentence

She spoke with evident anguish about the death of her son.

The problems have been evident for quite some time.

Recent Examples on the Web

In a sense, that was evident a week ago, when the Hornets’ rookie class inked their respective contracts. —Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2025

The club’s communication has not helped, though noticeable strides in transparency have been evident since the saga of Alvarez’s undiagnosed hand fracture. —Chandler Rome, New York Times, 10 July 2025

The relaxation is evident in displays of locals stretched out in the various parks in this very green city, some bordering the Spree, the river that bisects it. —Laurie Werner, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025

The influence of these women is evident even now in the French dialect spoken in Quebec. —Ann Foster, JSTOR Daily, 9 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin evident-, evidens, from e- + vident-, videns, present participle of vidēre to see — more at wit

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing evident

• self-evident

Kids Definition

evident

adjective

ev·​i·​dent ˈev-əd-ənt 

-ə-ˌdent

: clear to the sight or mind : plain

was evident that they were twins

Etymology

Middle English evident "clearly seen or understood," from early French evident (same meaning), from Latin evident-, evidens (same meaning), from e-, ex- "out, away" and vident-, videns, a form of vidēre "to see" — related to vision