evident

adjective

ev·​i·​dent ˈe-və-dənt 

-və-ˌdent

: clear to the vision or understanding

Synonyms

• 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

With an evident sense of shame, Sheen recalls cutting a deal with the feds for immunity, and spilling the details to law enforcement with Fleiss and her lawyers in the room. —Oren Peleg, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025

The olive flavor in the ice cream is evident, rounded out with equal parts sugar and salt. —Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 9 Sep. 2025

Those roots are immediately evident in the various art, architecture and foods visible throughout the city. —Alissa Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025

Volvo Volvo’s commitment to sustainability is evident, with the ES90 set to be produced using climate-neutral energy, helping the automaker maintain one of the lowest carbon footprints in the industry. —New Atlas, 9 Sep. 2025

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