even

[ ee-vuhn ]

/ ˈi vən /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR even ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

level; flat; without surface irregularities; smooth: an even road.

on the same level; in the same plane or line; parallel: even with the ground.

free from variations or fluctuations; regular: even motion.

uniform in action, character, or quality: to hold an even course.

equal in measure or quantity: Add even amounts of oil and vinegar.

divisible by two, as a number (opposed to odd).

denoted by such a number: the even pages of a book.

exactly expressible in integers, or in tens, hundreds, etc., without fractional parts: an even seven miles.

Mathematics. (of a function) having a sign that remains the same when the sign of each independent variable is changed at the same time.

equally balanced or divided; equal: Check to see if the scales are even.

leaving no balance of debt on either side; square: We will not be even until I can repay him for saving my life.

calm; placid; not easily excited or angered: an even temper.

equitable, impartial, or fair: an even bargain.

adverb

evenly: The road ran even over the fields.

still; yet (used to emphasize a comparative): even more suitable.

(used to suggest that something mentioned as a possibility constitutes an extreme case or an unlikely instance): Even the slightest noise disturbs him. Even if he attends, he may not participate.

just (used to emphasize occurrence, coincidence, or simultaneousness of occurrences): Even as he lay dying, they argued over his estate.

fully or quite: even to death.

indeed (used as an intensive for stressing the identity or truth of something): He is willing, even eager, to do it.

exactly or precisely: It was even so.

verb (used with object)

to make even; level; smooth (sometimes followed by out): to even a board with a plane.

to place in an even state as to claim or obligation; balance (often followed by up): to even up accounts.

verb (used without object)

to become even: The odds evened before the race.

Verb Phrases

even out,

to make or become even, smooth, or flat: The wrinkles will even out when the suit dries.
to become equal, balanced, stable, etc.: optimistic that the situation would even out eventually.

Idioms for even

break even, to have one's profits equal one's losses; neither gain nor lose: The company barely broke even last year.

get even, to be revenged; retaliate: He vowed to get even for the insult.

Origin of even

before 900; (adj.) Middle English; Old English efen; cognate with Gothic ibns, Old High German eban, Old Norse jafn even, equal; (adv.) Middle English even(e), Old English efne, derivative of the adj.; (v.) Middle English evenen, Old English efnan to lower, derivative of the adj.

SYNONYMS FOR even

1 plane. See level.

12 tranquil, temperate, composed, peaceful.

13 just.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR even ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR even

1 irregular.

12 mercurial.

13 biased.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR even ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM even

e·ven·er, noun e·ven·ly, adverb e·ven·ness, noun

Words nearby even

eve, eve's pudding, evection, evelyn, evemerus, even, even money, even out, even permutation, even so, even up

British Dictionary definitions for even up (1 of 3)

even up

verb

(adverb) to make or become equal, esp in respect of claims or debts; settle or balance

British Dictionary definitions for even up (2 of 3)

even ¹

/ (ˈiːvən) /

adjective

level and regular; flat an even surface

(postpositive foll by with) on the same level or in the same plane (as) one surface even with another

without variation or fluctuation; regular; constant an even rate of progress

not readily moved or excited; placid; calm an even temper

equally balanced between two sides an even game

equal or identical in number, quantity, etc two even spoonfuls of sugar

(of a number) divisible by two
characterized or indicated by such a numbermaps are on the even pages Compare odd (def. 4)

relating to or denoting two or either of two alternatives, events, etc, that have an equal probability an even chance of missing or catching a train

having no balance of debt; neither owing nor being owed

just and impartial; fair an even division

exact in number, amount, or extent an even pound

equal, as in score; level now the teams are even

maths (of a function) unchanged in value when the sign of the independent variable is changed, as in y = z ² See odd (def. 8)

even money

a bet in which the winnings are the same as the amount staked
(as modifier)the even-money favourite

get even informal to exact revenge (on); settle accounts (with)

of even date law formal, or obsolete of the same or today's date

adverb

(intensifier; used to suggest that the content of a statement is unexpected or paradoxical) even an idiot can do that

(intensifier; used with comparative forms) this is even better

notwithstanding; in spite of even having started late she soon caught him up

used to introduce a more precise version of a word, phrase, or statement he is base, even depraved

used preceding a clause of supposition or hypothesis to emphasize the implication that whether or not the condition in it is fulfilled, the statement in the main clause remains valid even if she died he wouldn't care

archaic that is to say; namely (used for emphasis) he, even he, hath spoken these things

archaic all the way; fully I love thee even unto death

even as (conjunction) at the very same moment or in the very same way that even as I spoke, it thundered

even so in spite of any assertion to the contrary: nevertheless

verb

to make or become even

See also break even, even out, evens, even up

Derived forms of even

evener, noun evenly, adverb evenness, noun

Word Origin for even

Old English efen; related to Old Norse jafn even, equal, Gothic ibns, Old High German eban

British Dictionary definitions for even up (3 of 3)

even ²

/ (ˈiːvən) /

noun

an archaic word for eve, evening

Word Origin for even

Old English ǣfen; related to Old Frisian ēvend, Old High German āband

Scientific definitions for even up

even

[ ē′vən ]

Divisible by 2 with a remainder of 0, such as 12 or 876.

Idioms and Phrases with even up

even

In addition to the idioms beginning with even

even money
even so

also see:

break even
never give a sucker an even break
on an even keel

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

even

adjective

adverb

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Verb Phrases

Idioms for even

Origin of even

SYNONYMS FOR even

ANTONYMS FOR even

OTHER WORDS FROM even

Words nearby even

British Dictionary definitions for even up (1 of 3)

verb

British Dictionary definitions for even up (2 of 3)

adjective

adverb

verb

Derived forms of even

Word Origin for even

British Dictionary definitions for even up (3 of 3)

noun

Word Origin for even

Scientific definitions for even up

Idioms and Phrases with even up

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

even

adjective

adverb

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Verb Phrases

Idioms for even

Origin of even

SYNONYMS FOR even

ANTONYMS FOR even

OTHER WORDS FROM even

Words nearby even

Words related to even up

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verb

British Dictionary definitions for even up (2 of 3)

adjective

adverb

verb

Derived forms of even

Word Origin for even

British Dictionary definitions for even up (3 of 3)

noun

Word Origin for even

Scientific definitions for even up

Idioms and Phrases with even up

British Dictionary definitions for even up (1 of 3)