equal

adjective \ ˈē-kwəl \

|Updated on: 17 Jun 2018

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Examples: equal in a Sentence

Definition of equal

1 a (1) : of the same measure, quantity, amount, or number as another

(2) : identical in mathematical value or logical denotation : equivalent

b : like in quality, nature, or status

c : like for each member of a group, class, or society

provide equal employment opportunities

2 : regarding or affecting all objects in the same way : impartial

3 : free from extremes: such as

a : tranquil in mind or mood

b : not showing variation in appearance, structure, or proportion

4 a : capable of meeting the requirements of a situation or a task

b : suitable

bored with work not equal to his abilities

See equal defined for English-language learners

See equal defined for kids

Examples of equal in a Sentence

an equal number of apples and oranges
We divided the profits into three equal shares.
The play combines tragedy and comedy in equal measure.
The opposing candidate has demanded equal time on television.
The fractions 1/2 and 2/4 are equal.
providing equal opportunities for children of all races
We need to have equal academic standards for male and female students.

Recent Examples of equal from the Web

If this is the case, then the disparity between now and the early 2000s increases -- wage growth in early 2018 has been equal to or lower than the trough of the early 2000s business cycle.

— noah smith, chicagotribune.com, "A job market this tight should deliver bigger raises," 11 June 2018
Just meeting with Trump will also give Kim a recognition North Korea has long sought, setting him up as global player and equal to the US domestically and internationally as the leader of a ‘‘normal country’’ worthy of respect.

— foster klug, BostonGlobe.com, "North Korea’s Kim arrives in Singapore," 10 June 2018
Davis’ season average has dropped to .152, and his .232 slugging percentage is equal to his .232 on-base percentage.

— josh land, baltimoresun.com, "Orioles on deck: Davis back in starting lineup, plus what to watch Sunday at Blue Jays and more," 10 June 2018
Stretton argued that write-in candidates for ward committee posts must receive at least 10 votes to be elected, equal to the number of signatures required to get on the ballot.

— chris brennan, Philly.com, "Judge dismisses lawsuit between two warring political factions in Northeast Philly," 8 June 2018
This year’s reports show that keeping Social Security solvent would require corrections equal to prospective benefit reductions of 21% across the board.

— charles blahous, WSJ, "The Social Security Trust Fund Goes Bust," 7 June 2018
The World Bank found that if countries all raised tariffs up to the maximum allowed under current trade law, global trade flows could fall by 9 percent, equal to the drop that took place during the financial crisis of 2008-2009.

— NBC News, "Trump's policies could have 'severe consequences' worldwide, say global economists," 7 June 2018
Her concern is that at least some of these parents have failed to do what thousands of home-school families have done across the state — provide instruction that is at least equal to what the children would be receiving in school.

— josh kovner, courant.com, "Child Advocate Expands Probe Into Use Of Home Schooling By Parents Suspected Of Abuse, Neglect," 6 June 2018
Urgent, but non-immediate issues are hard to earnestly tackle now, but will be nearly impossible to address when the need for immediate action on them is equal to that of current preoccupations and focuses.

— miamiherald, "Leigh-Ann Buchanan," 5 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'equal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of equal

Middle English, from Latin aequalis, from aequus level, equal

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First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

See Words from the same year

equal Synonyms

Phrases

at peace;

Synonym Discussion of equal

same, selfsame, very, identical, equivalent, equal mean not different or not differing from one another. same may imply and selfsame always implies that the things under consideration are one thing and not two or more things.

- took the same route
- derived from the selfsame source

very, like selfsame, may imply identity, or, like same may imply likeness in kind.

- the very point I was trying to make

identical may imply selfsameness or suggest absolute agreement in all details.

- identical results

equivalent implies amounting to the same thing in worth or significance.

- two houses equivalent in market value

equal implies being identical in value, magnitude, or some specified quality.

- equal shares in the business

Other Mathematics and Statistics Terms

abscissa, denominator, divisor, equilateral, exponent, hypotenuse, logarithm, oblique, radii, rhomb

equal

noun

Definition of equal

1 : one that is equal

insists that women can be absolute equals with men
—Anne Bernays

2 : an equal quantity

See equal defined for English-language learners

Examples of equal in a Sentence

I consider him my equal.
We are all equals here.

Recent Examples of equal from the Web

But the case for arbitration is a lot stronger when the dispute is between two equals—say, two businesses in a joint venture—than between an individual worker who can’t afford lawyers and a company that can.

— alan s. blinder, WSJ, "What to Do When the Labor Market Stops Working for Workers," 11 June 2018
Mr Trump has both been more threatening to the North Korean regime than any previous president and, in offering a summit that will show the two men as equals, more accommodating.

— The Economist, "Donald Trump is undermining the rules-based international order," 7 June 2018
In the game, all players participated as equals, similar to the way anonymous individuals interact online on message boards and in chat forums.

— roni dengler, Science | AAAS, "How minority viewpoints become majority ones," 7 June 2018
But the detail of future ties remains to be decided and the U.K. is pushing for a relationship of equals.

— ian wishart, Bloomberg.com, "The Italy Panic Might Be Bad News for the U.K.," 30 May 2018
Nearly six in 10 Republicans — 58 percent — say women are treated as equals by their male counterparts, while 36 percent disagree.

— NBC News, "Poll: Workplace equality stalls for women even as perceptions improve," 22 Mar. 2018
These things happened at Carb Day, where the old and new are beautiful equals.

— david lindquist, Indianapolis Star, "Carb Day: Years melt away for beautiful party to kick off Indianapolis 500 weekend," 25 May 2018
The roles in Prokofiev’s String Quartet in F Major, Opus 92, are those of co-equals, and the Calidore handed off ideas to each other seamlessly.

— peter dobrin, Philly.com, "Calidore String Quartet makes gorgeous Philadelphia debut in Caroline Shaw works," 14 May 2018
And that we are treated as equals and not discriminated against.

— lena jackson, brenda medina and kyra gurney, miamiherald, "These immigrants came for a better education. Now, they'll never graduate high school | Miami Herald," 16 May 2018

First Known Use of equal

1573

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

equal Synonyms

Synonyms

coequal, coordinate, counterpart, equivalent, fellow, like, match, parallel, peer, rival;

Related Words

analogue (or analog);

double, half, mate, twin;

associate, colleague, companion, copartner, partner;

competitor;

Other Mathematics and Statistics Terms

abscissa, denominator, divisor, equilateral, exponent, hypotenuse, logarithm, oblique, radii, rhomb

equal

verb

Definition of equal

equaled or equalled; equaling or equalling

transitive verb

1 : to be equal to; especially : to be identical in value to

2 archaic : equalize

3 : to make or produce something equal to

See equal defined for English-language learners

Examples of equal in a Sentence

Nothing can ever equal that experience.
See if you can equal that!
a weight lifter attempting to equal his rival's performance
No one can equal him in chess.

Recent Examples of equal from the Web

Nick Pivetta gave up five runs, equaling the most runs the Phillies have scored in a game since June 5.

— scott lauber, Philly.com, "How Phillies' Pat Neshek (remember him?) could boost bullpen | Extra Innings," 14 June 2018
Last year, Amazon purchased Whole Foods Market in a deal equaling nearly $14 billion.

— jessica suriano, azcentral, "5 things Amazon Prime members should know to save at Whole Foods in Arizona," 13 June 2018
But appearing side by side as equals risks legitimizing Kim's regime, critics argue.

— joshua berlinger, CNN, "Singapore summit: Anxious world awaits outcome of high-stakes talks," 12 June 2018
This is because suicide is indeterminate, much like the X plus Y equals 1 equation.

— joseph franklin, Scientific American, "Suicide Prediction Remains Difficult Despite Decades of Research," 11 June 2018
Naturally, the other members of the family ultimately get to join in the fun too, but Elastigirl is decidedly first among equals this time around.

— todd mccarthy, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Incredibles 2': Film Review," 11 June 2018
The second is a dispute resolution equation that one plus one sometimes equals three.

— steven p. dinkin, sandiegouniontribune.com, "The passed-over interim and the outside hire," 10 June 2018
Michael Jordan was the all-time great superstar who could never equal that mojo in a suit, as an executive and team owner.

— greg cote, miamiherald, "Marlins' 25th Anniversary Weekend underlines Derek Jeter's obligation to heal deep wounds," 9 June 2018
Federal property equals federal jurisdiction, then ordered the Secret Service to conceal the assault.

— Fox News, "Kellyanne Conway blasts media's Melania conspiracy theories," 6 June 2018

First Known Use of equal

1590

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

equal Synonyms

Synonyms

correspond (to), match, parallel;

complement, supplement;

counterbalance, counterpoise;

echo, image, mirror, repeat;

add up (to), amount (to), approach, come (to), near;

measure (up), partake (of), rival, suggest;

Other Mathematics and Statistics Terms

abscissa, denominator, divisor, equilateral, exponent, hypotenuse, logarithm, oblique, radii, rhomb

EQUAL Defined for English Language Learners

equal

adjective

Definition of equal for English Language Learners

: the same in number, amount, degree, rank, or quality
: having the same mathematical value
: not changing : the same for each person

equal

noun

Definition of equal for English Language Learners

: someone or something that is as good, skillful, valuable, etc., as another person or thing

equal

verb

Definition of equal for English Language Learners

—used to say that one amount or number is the same as another
: to be as good as (something else)
: to produce something that is as good as (something else) or to do something as well as (someone else)

EQUAL Defined for Kids

equal

adjective \ ˈē-kwəl \

Definition of equal for Students

1 : exactly the same in number, amount, degree, rank, or quality

an equal share

of equal importance

2 : the same for each person

equal rights

3 : having enough strength, ability, or means

He's equal to the task.

—

equally

\ˈē-kwə-lē\ adverb

We shared the profit equally.

equal

verb

Definition of equal for Students

equaled or equalled; equaling or equalling

: to be the same in number, amount, degree, rank, or quality as

equal

noun

Definition of equal for Students

: someone or something that is as good or valuable as another

Law Dictionary

equal

adjective

legal Definition of equal

1 : like in quality, nature, or status

2 : like for each member of a group, class, or society

3 : regarding or affecting all objects in the same way : impartial

Origin and Etymology of equal

Latin aequalis, from aequus level, equal

equal

noun

legal Definition of equal

: one that is equal

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equal

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equal

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equal

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equal

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equally

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