uneven

adjective un·even \ ˌən-ˈē-vən \

|Updated on: 21 Jun 2018

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Examples: uneven in a Sentence

Definition of uneven

1 a archaic : unequal 1a

b : odd 3a

2 a : not even : not level or smooth : rugged, ragged

large uneven teeth

uneven handwriting

b : varying from the straight or parallel

c : not uniform : irregular

uneven combustion

d : varying in quality

an uneven performance

3 : unequal 3a

an uneven confrontation

—

unevenly

adverb

—

unevenness

play \ˌən-ˈē-və(n)-nəs\ noun

See uneven defined for English-language learners

See uneven defined for kids

Examples of uneven in a Sentence

His breathing was shallow and uneven.
You should check your car's tires often for signs of uneven wear.
an uneven distribution of wealth
We have an uneven number of players, so we'll have to rotate.

Recent Examples of uneven from the Web

But even though progress has been made, the data remain quite uneven.

— adam harris, The Atlantic, "The College-Graduation Problem All States Have," 16 June 2018
French President Emmanuel Macron countered that the playing field might be uneven on either side of the Atlantic in individual markets.

— emre peker, WSJ, "Behind the Scenes at G-7 Meetings, Allies Dismayed by Trump’s Jabs," 15 June 2018
Two tribes that at first glance appear very uneven.

— josh wigler, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Survivor Ghost Island': Jeff Probst Breaks Down the "Historic" Finale," 23 May 2018
With Enterprise, some fans blamed the anemic finale on the series’ often-uneven writing.

— sam ferguson, Ars Technica, "A dozen years after near-death, Star Trek’s future may be stronger than ever," 19 May 2018
What detracts from the proceedings is that sometimes Deadpool 2 does exactly what viewers should expect, resulting in a movie that feels decidedly uneven at times.

— bryan bishop, The Verge, "Deadpool 2 proves the first movie was no fluke," 15 May 2018
And yet for as uneven as Corbin’s performance was, the Dodgers managed to score just one time against him in a game the Diamondbacks would go on to lose 6-3 at Dodger Stadium.

— nick piecoro, azcentral, "Patrick Corbin muddles through outing as Diamondbacks fall to Dodgers," 10 May 2018
Staggered in height and uneven at the edges, these precarious-looking structures reach for the heavens.

— New York Times, "Review: In ‘The Gentleman Caller,’ a Talky Tennessee Williams," 10 May 2018
Fitzpatrick is the 15th player selected 11th overall (his slot) or higher, and the 14 previous are a wildly uneven mishmash of notable early-era successes and monumental misfires.

— greg cote, miamiherald, "All eyes will be on Dolphins' top pick at minicamp, but the pressure will be elsewhere | Miami Herald," 7 May 2018

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

First Known Use of uneven

before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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uneven Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of uneven

rough, harsh, uneven, rugged, scabrous mean not smooth or even. rough implies points, bristles, ridges, or projections on the surface.

- a rough wooden board

harsh implies a surface or texture distinctly unpleasant to the touch.

- a harsh fabric that chafes the skin

uneven implies a lack of uniformity in height, breadth, or quality.

- an old house with uneven floors

rugged implies irregularity or roughness of land surface and connotes difficulty of travel.

- a rugged landscape

scabrous implies scaliness or prickliness of surface.

- a scabrous leaf

UNEVEN Defined for English Language Learners

uneven

adjective

Definition of uneven for English Language Learners

: not level, flat, or smooth
: not straight or parallel
: not following a regular pattern : not the same in all parts or at all times

UNEVEN Defined for Kids

uneven

adjective un·even \ ˌən-ˈē-vən \

Definition of uneven for Students

1 : odd 3

uneven numbers

2 : not level, straight, or smooth

an uneven surface

3 : irregular 4

uneven breathing

4 : varying in quality

an uneven performance

5 : unequal 2

an uneven competition

—

unevenly

adverb

The board was cut unevenly.

—

unevenness

noun

Learn More about uneven

See words that rhyme with uneven Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for uneven Spanish Central: Translation of uneven Nglish: Translation of uneven for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of uneven for Arabic speakers

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uneven

Definition of uneven

unevenly

unevenness

Examples of uneven in a Sentence

Recent Examples of uneven from the Web

First Known Use of uneven

uneven Synonyms

Synonyms

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UNEVEN Defined for English Language Learners

uneven

Definition of uneven for English Language Learners

UNEVEN Defined for Kids

uneven

Definition of uneven for Students

unevenly

unevenness

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