adj

even

EE-vuhn

adj

Flat, level, or smooth.

"Make sure the shelf is even before you fix it in place."

Equal or balanced; showing no strong variation.

"The score was even at halftime."

"She kept an even temper throughout the argument."

Of a number, exactly divisible by two.

"Four and six are even numbers."

adv

Used to emphasize something surprising or extreme.

"He didn't even say thank you."

"Even the experts were stumped by the puzzle."

verb

To make level, equal, or balanced.

"The two goals evened the score before the break."

How to Use Even

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishLevel or equal — or, as an adverb, a word that adds emphasis to something unexpected.

Common pairings

even ground even numbers even out even so

Word Forms

evener comparative, more even comparative, evened past tense, evens plural, evens plural, Evens plural, evens singular, evenest superlative, most even superlative

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Make sure the shelf is _____ before you fix it in place.

Etymology

From Old English efn ("level, equal"), from Proto-Germanic *ebnaz — related to German eben and Dutch even.

Synonyms

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level uniform monotone on par quits square match precisely

Antonyms

uneven odd

Related Words

odd standard square right plaza differ flat sharp

Rhymes for even

seven eleven Steven uneven

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