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
1
First recorded before 900; (adjective) Middle English; Old English efen; cognate with Gothic ibns, Old High German eban, Old Norse jafn “even, equal”; (adverb) Middle English even(e),Old English efne, derivative of the adjective; (verb) Middle English evenen, Old English efnan “to lower,” derivative of the adjective
Alcohol and sugar, even in moderate amounts, are not only sinful but poisonous.
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This is even more striking in Submission than in his previous books.
Houellebecq’s Incendiary Novel Imagines France With a Muslim President|Pierre Assouline|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Even internally in the House, women are not getting their fair shake.
The Unbearable Whiteness of Congress|Dean Obeidallah|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
For many years afterward it was a never-ending topic of conversation, and is more or less talked of even to this day.
New York’s Most Tragic Ghost Loves Minimalist Swedish Fashion|Nina Strochlic|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Parents are talking about it, schools are talking about it, even kids themselves are talking about it.
How Skinny Is Too Skinny? Israel Bans ‘Underweight’ Models|Carrie Arnold|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Even the city of Philadelphia is not exempt from this moral pestilence.
American Slave Trade|Jesse Torrey
Even rocks have been imitated; and spun glass has often successfully represented water.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness|Florence Hartley
We find, then, that even for this remaining division of human activities, scientific culture is the proper preparation.
Essays on Education and Kindred Subjects|Herbert Spencer
Just a mouthful of bread, and even that I do not get a chance to eat!
The Memoirs of Victor Hugo|Victor Hugo
But even while he was lying wide awake, it began again, and it was such a dismal sound he could feel the goose-flesh forming.
The Quest|Frederik van Eeden
British Dictionary definitions for even (1 of 2)
even1
/ (ˈiːvən) /
adjective
level and regular; flatan 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; constantan even rate of progress
not readily moved or excited; placid; calman even temper
equally balanced between two sidesan even game
equal or identical in number, quantity, etctwo 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 probabilityan even chance of missing or catching a train
having no balance of debt; neither owing nor being owed
just and impartial; fairan even division
exact in number, amount, or extentan even pound
equal, as in score; levelnow the teams are even
maths(of a function) unchanged in value when the sign of the independent variable is changed, as in y = z ²See 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 eveninformalto exact revenge (on); settle accounts (with)
of even datelawformal, orobsoleteof 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 ofeven having started late she soon caught him up
used to introduce a more precise version of a word, phrase, or statementhe 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 valideven if she died he wouldn't care
archaicthat is to say; namely (used for emphasis)he, even he, hath spoken these things
archaicall the way; fullyI love thee even unto death
even as(conjunction)at the very same moment or in the very same way thateven as I spoke, it thundered
even soin 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, nounevenly, adverbevenness, 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 (2 of 2)
even2
/ (ˈiːvən) /
noun
an archaic word for eve, evening
Word Origin for even
Old English ǣfen; related to Old Frisian ēvend, Old High German āband