evident

adjective

ev·​i·​dent ˈe-və-dənt 

-və-ˌdent

: clear to the vision or understanding

Synonyms of evident

• 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

Most visibly, British influence is evident in the sporting arena, notably soccer, which was brought over by British immigrants. — ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026

Signs of frustration with the deal were evident Monday when assembly members held a hearing on the measure. — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Tasted neat, in a classic martini, or in a Queen’s Cygnature Martini, that greatness is evident from first sip to last. — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 2 Sep. 2026

But the hostility toward Jews was evident during the Dreyfus affair, which saw Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish captain in the French army, wrongly convicted of treason in 1894. — Barbara Spindel, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Sep. 2026

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