equal

[ ee-kwuhl ]
/ ˈi kwəl /

adjective

noun

a person or thing that is equal.

verb (used with object), e·qualed, e·qual·ing or (especially British) e·qualled, e·qual·ling.

Origin of equal

1350–1400; Middle English (adj.) < Latin aequālis equal, like, equivalent to aequ(us) even, plain, just + -ālis -al1

SYNONYMS FOR equal

2 proportionate, commensurate, coordinate, correspondent. Equal, equivalent, tantamount imply a correspondence between two or more things. Equal indicates a correspondence in all respects or in a particular respect: A dime is equal to 10 cents (that is, in purchasing power). Equivalent indicates a correspondence in one or more respects, but not in all: An egg is said to be the equivalent of a pound of meat in nutritive value. Tantamount, a word of limited application, is used of immaterial things that are equivalent: The prisoner's refusal to answer was tantamount to an admission of guilt.
4 even, uniform, regular, unvarying, invariant.
6 suited, fitted.
10 peer, compeer, match, mate, fellow.

usage note for equal

1–9. See unique.

OTHER WORDS FROM equal

Example sentences from the Web for equal

British Dictionary definitions for equal

equal
/ (ˈiːkwəl) /

adjective

noun

a person or thing equal to another, esp in merit, ability, etc he has no equal when it comes to boxing

verb equals, equalling or equalled or US equals, equaling or equaled

Derived forms of equal

equally, adverb

Word Origin for equal

C14: from Latin aequālis, from aequus level, of obscure origin

usage for equal

The use of more equal as in from now on their relationship will be a more equal one is acceptable in modern English usage. Equally is preferred to equally as in sentences such as reassuring the victims is equally important. Just as is preferred to equally as in sentences such as their surprise was just as great as his

Idioms and Phrases with equal

equal