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.
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Sophisticated approaches to cultural moment marketing were evident, particularly through alice + olivia's strategic positioning around America's 250th anniversary in 2026.—Kaleigh Moore, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025 That was evident in San Jose when Shinoda went out into the pit, between the stage and the crowd barriers, and walked about touching hands and sharing moments with the audience.—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025 Step inside, and the attention to detail is evident everywhere.—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 16 Sep. 2025 Demonizing or attempting to eliminate those who think differently – literally or symbolically – has become a dangerous norm, which is all too evident in the wake of the Kirk shooting.—Arash Javanbakht, The Conversation, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for evident
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
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
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