evergreen

[ ev-er-green ]

adjective

1. (of trees, shrubs, etc.) having green leaves throughout the entire year, the leaves of the past season not being shed until after the new foliage has been completely formed.
2. retaining its relevance, popularity, usefulness, etc.; enduring:

   Some toys are evergreen favorites.

3. Law. (of a contract or contract clause) specifying automatic renewal at the end of the term.

noun

1. an evergreen plant.
2. evergreens, evergreen twigs or branches used for decoration.
3. something that is evergreen, or enduringly fresh:

   The paper publishes decorating tips or other archived evergreens on slow news days.

evergreen

/ ˈɛvəˌɡriːn /

adjective

1. (of certain trees and shrubs) bearing foliage throughout the year; continually shedding and replacing leaves Compare deciduous
2. remaining fresh and vital

noun

1. an evergreen tree or shrub

evergreen

/ ĕv′ər-grēn′ /

Adjective

1. Having green leaves or needles all year. Evergreen trees lose their leaves individually on an ongoing basis, rather than losing all of them in a short period at the end of a growing season in the manner of deciduous trees.
2. Compare deciduous

Noun

1. An evergreen tree, shrub, or plant, such as the pine, holly, or rhododendron.

Word History and Origins

Origin of evergreen¹

First recorded in 1545–55; ever + green

Example Sentences

And despite having had 17 children, 33 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren between them since that first drink 56 years ago, the togetherness of this evergreen and happy-go-lucky group hasn't either.

From BBC

Her recommendations include multiple buckwheats, including California buckwheat, and Yankee Point ceanothus, an evergreen groundcover that has beautiful spring flowers.

From Los Angeles Times

His goal was achieving an “evergreen quality,” as he puts it, not least because he knows that might ensure that the songs find new audiences as successive generations of kids age out of the album.

From Los Angeles Times

Her recommendations include multiple buckwheats, including California buckwheat and Yankee Point ceanothus, an evergreen groundcover that has beautiful spring flowers.

From Los Angeles Times

Maybe the evergreen draw of “When Harry Met Sally” isn’t in the overt romance that grows between them but in the series of interactions where they get to know each other.

From Salon

Related Words

• fir
• hedge
• pine