equal

adjective

\ ˈē-kwəl

Definition of equal

(Entry 1 of 3)

1a(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

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

b : suitable bored with work not equal to his abilities

equal

noun

Definition of equal (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : one that is equal insists that women can be absolute equals with men— Anne Bernays

2 : an equal quantity

equal

verb

equaled or equalled; equaling or equalling

Definition of equal (Entry 3 of 3)

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

Other Words from equal Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about equal

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Choose the Right Synonym for equal

Adjective

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

Examples of equal in a Sentence

Adjective

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.

Noun

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

Verb

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 on the Web: Adjective

Is Sam Dyson’s trade value equal to, or superior to Smith’s? — Kerry Crowley, The Mercury News, "San Francisco Giants: 25 big questions for 25 players at the All-Star break," 10 July 2019 The women do not deserve to be paid equal to the men. — Houston Mitchell, latimes.com, "The Sports Report: Maybe the U.S. women should be paid more than the men," 8 July 2019 The soccer team's 2-0 victory against the Netherlands proved that the US women are still at the top of the game -- and, the athletes say, that they should be paid as equal to men. — Michelle Lou, CNN, "US World Cup win proves female players deserve equal pay, team says," 7 July 2019 In 1969, Canada’s House of Commons gave final approval to the Official Languages Act, making French equal to English throughout the national government. — BostonGlobe.com, "This day in history," 7 July 2019 Outlook: Snap is still burdened by big research expenses, equal to one-third of its total costs, and R&D needed to expand its photo-sharing platform is expected to jump to over $900 million this year. — Shawn Tully, Fortune, "Tech's 4 Biggest Cash Burners Have Torn Through $23.9 Billion Combined," 20 June 2019 If every Westerner held in Libra an amount equal to one-tenth of their bank deposits today, the new currency outstanding would be worth over $2trn. — The Economist, "What Facebook’s new currency means for the banking system," 20 June 2019 More spending would add to budgets that, according to estimates by the Congressional Budget Office, are already running annual deficits of $1 trillion, equal to roughly 4% of gross domestic product. — Robert Samuelson, Twin Cities, "Robert Samuelson: A refugee from the 1930s," 19 June 2019 The government aims to move nearly 300 million more people—almost equal to the entire U.S. population—into cities by 2030. — Andrew Moore, National Geographic, "To build the cities of the future, we must get out of our cars," 17 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Players simply could not help but to give their all for Lattek, who returned the favour by treating his squad as his equals. — SI.com, "Udo Lattek: The Bundesliga Icon Who Shattered European Records," 9 July 2019 First among equals was Austin Slater, who tripled and homered in his 2019 debut. — Henry Schulman, SFChronicle.com, "Giants go on extra-base-hit tear, smash Padres — Austin Slater homers in ’19 debut," 1 July 2019 Hopefully the next generation of Bruins are their equals in that department. — Tara Sullivan, BostonGlobe.com, "Zdeno Chara showed his grit and leadership right to the painful finish," 13 June 2019 Because if Neanderthals were our equals and still died out, what’s stopping nature from being as cruel to us? — Brian Resnick, Vox, "A new study further undermines the myth of the “savage” Neanderthal," 15 Nov. 2018 C&J Energy Services, which offers a suite of oil and gas production services, and Keane Group, which specializes in well completions will combine in what the companies described as a merger of equals. — Fuel Fix Staff, Houston Chronicle, "C&J Energy, Keane Group to merge if $1.8b deal," 17 June 2019 Unfortunately for Raytheon shareholders, who are not benefiting from a premium in the merger of equals, Boeing was in no position to take on such a sizable transaction. — Ellen Florian, Fortune, "Here's How the United Technologies-Raytheon Merger Could Make Life Even Harder for Boeing," 14 June 2019 The all-stock deal, billed as a merger of equals, would create a new company known as Raytheon Technologies Corp., which would have about $74 billion in annual sales. — Samantha Masunaga, latimes.com, "Raytheon and United Technologies are merging, with a focus on R&D," 10 June 2019 Ukraine's president has launched a campaign to persuade Bartholomew, seen by many as the first among equals of Orthodox leaders, to accept Ukraine's request. — Ayse Wieting, Fox News, "Cleric: 'No going back' on Ukraine split from Russia Church," 31 Aug. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Because the Giants have elevated the promotional day experience to a level of sophistication that may never be equalled. — Gary Peterson, The Mercury News, "‘Friends’ is turning 25, and the Giants are recreating the magic," 27 June 2019 The second injury equaled a redshirt year as an NFL rookie in 2017. — Ryan O'halloran, The Denver Post, "Broncos tight end Jake Butt is confident his form will return after third ACL injury," 22 June 2019 These are known all over the world, and some of them have been published in seven foreign languages, while one book has already reached a sale of over a half million copies, a record never yet equaled by the most successful novel published. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "From the Archives: L. Frank Baum at Coronado," 16 June 2019 The raw, concentrated intensity of the writing in these books, whether the landscape is a mind in meltdown or the havoc of the battlefield, has rarely been equalled in contemporary fiction. — Sam Sacks, WSJ, "Fiction: Inappropriate Attachments," 7 June 2019 Van Halen's record of 13 No. 1s on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Songs airplay chart, which has stood for over two decades, has finally been equaled. — Kevin Rutherford, Billboard, "Three Days Grace Ties Van Halen for Most No. 1s on Mainstream Rock Songs Chart," 28 Mar. 2018 Pins do not equal an official historic designation, however. — Rebecca Duke Wiesenberg, baltimoresun.com, "Preservation Maryland project seeks to unearth LGBTQ history," 23 June 2019 But there remains a fear that the ratings for 23 presidential candidates will not equal the ratings for one Special Counsel. — Sarah Ellison, Washington Post, "MSNBC is both a news channel and face of the Resistance. How will that impact the Democratic primary debate?," 22 June 2019 Those growth rates virtually equaled or lagged behind population surges recorded for the same age groups in Harris, Travis and Dallas counties and across Texas as a whole. — Peggy O’hare, ExpressNews.com, "Census shows an influx of folks 25 to 39 years old in Bexar County," 19 June 2019

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.