evergreen

1 of 2

adjective

ev·​er·​green ˈe-vər-ˌgrēn 

1

: having foliage that remains green and functional through more than one growing season compare deciduous sense 1

2

a

: retaining freshness or interest : perennial

b

: universally and continually relevant : not limited in applicability to a particular event or date

This morning writer Erin Gloria Ryan tweeted, "It has not been a good 24 hours for masculinity." It's a sort of evergreen tweet that might be true at most times over the last several thousand years.

—James Hamblin

He'll spend a good chunk of the special talking about his family, and some time discussing politics, too, though he has been admonished to stay close to "evergreen" material for re-runs.

—Michael. K. MacIntyre

evergreen

2 of 2

noun

plural evergreens

1

: a plant having foliage that remains green and functional through more than one growing season

If temperatures are above 40 degrees, spray broadleaf evergreens with an antidesiccant to ward off winter dehydration and windburn.

—Jessica Damiano

especially : an evergreen conifer

Evergreens, on the other hand, endure winter's ice with hard, tough-skinned needles that continue food production throughout the seasons.

—Richard Wolkomir

2

plural : twigs and branches of evergreen plants used for decoration

3

: something that retains its freshness, interest, or popularity

Did you know?

O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum: as you are one of the most universally recognized symbols for both the secular and religious observances of Christmas, decorating your lovely branches is an evergreen tradition in two ways. First, because you are almost always an evergreen tree, aka a conifer (such as a fir, spruce, or pine) whose foliage remains green through more than one growing season. Second, because bringing an evergreen into one’s home in late December is an evergreen tradition: one that has occurred perennially, or yearly, since at least the 16th century, when people in what is now Germany used evergreens to celebrate December 24th, the feast day of Adam and Eve. The adjective evergreen is older than its noun counterpart; it was first used literally to describe trees and their foliage, then later took on the figurative senses of “perennial” and “continually relevant.”

Examples of evergreen in a Sentence

Adjective

Most pines are evergreen trees.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Although many hedge plants are evergreen, several deciduous shrubs can also be used, which will impact the winter appearance of your landscape. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2025

The evergreen to semi-evergreen foliage provides shelter to wintering birds. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2025

Noun

As broadleaf evergreens, rhododendrons have developed a waxy coat on their leaves to help prevent water loss. —Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 10 May 2025

Driven by new hits like The 1% Club and The Piano, along with evergreens such as MasterChef, the UK accounted for one-third (33%) of all new adaptations overseas last year, K7 said. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 8 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1658, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing evergreen

• evergreen oak

Rhymes for evergreen

• acrolein
• adenine
• alkylene
• aniline
• anthracene
• aquiline
• asphaltene
• atlantean
• atrazine
• butadiene
• butylene
• caesarean

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Kids Definition

evergreen

1 of 2 adjective

ev·​er·​green ˈev-ər-ˌgrēn 

: having leaves that remain green and functional through more than one growing season

most conifers are evergreen trees

compare deciduous

evergreen

2 of 2 noun

1

: an evergreen plant

also : conifer

2

plural : twigs and branches of evergreen plants used for decoration