equal

[ ee-kwuhl ]

adjective

1. as great as; the same as (often followed by to or with ):

   The velocity of sound is not equal to that of light.

2. like or alike in quantity, degree, value, etc.; of the same rank, ability, merit, etc.:

   two students of equal brilliance.

   Synonyms: correspondent, coordinate, commensurate, proportionate

   Antonyms: different

3. evenly proportioned or balanced:

   an equal contest.

4. uniform in operation or effect:

   equal laws.

   Synonyms: invariant, regular, uniform, even

5. adequate or sufficient in quantity or degree:

   The supply is equal to the demand.

6. having adequate ability, means, or other characteristics: Their English boots were not equal to the rigors of a Canadian winter.

   He was equal to the task.

   Their English boots were not equal to the rigors of a Canadian winter.

   Synonyms: fitted, suited

   Antonyms: inadequate

7. tranquil or undisturbed:

   to confront death with an equal mind.

8. impartial or equitable.
9. Archaic. having an even surface; level:

   the treeless, equal plains.

noun

1. a person or thing that is equal to another, as in quantity, degree, value, rank, or ability.

   Synonyms: fellow, equivalent, match, compeer, peer, coequal

verb (used with object)

, e·qualed, e·qual·ing or (especially British) e·qualled, e·qual·ling.

1. to be or become equal to; meet or match:

   So far the rate of production doesn't equal the demand.

   If A equals B and B equals C, then A equals C.

2. to make or do something equal to:

   No matter how he tries, he can't equal his brother's achievements.

3. Archaic. to make equal; equalize.
4. Obsolete. to recompense fully.

equal

/ ˈiːkwəl /

adjective

1. often foll byto or with identical in size, quantity, degree, intensity, etc; the same (as)
2. having identical privileges, rights, status, etc

   all men are equal before the law

3. having uniform effect or application

   equal opportunities

4. evenly balanced or proportioned

   the game was equal between the teams

5. usually foll by to having the necessary or adequate strength, ability, means, etc (for)

   to be equal to one's work

6. another word for equivalent

noun

1. a person or thing equal to another, esp in merit, ability, etc

   he has no equal when it comes to boxing

verb

1. tr to be equal to; correspond to; match

   my offer equals his

2. intrusually foll byout to become equal or level
3. tr to make, perform, or do something equal to

   to equal the world record

4. archaic.
   tr to make equal

Usage Note

See unique.

Usage

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

Derived Forms

• ˈequally, adverb

Other Words From

• non·e·qual adjective noun
• qua·si-e·qual adjective
• qua·si-e·qual·ly adverb
• sub·e·qual adjective
• sub·e·qual·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of equal¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English adjective from Latin aequālis “equal, like,” equivalent to aequ(us) “even, plain, just” + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of equal¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

• other things being equal
• separate but equal

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

But the sisters are radicalized after being attacked in the 1969 Burntollet Bridge incident, when protesters calling for equal rights on a peaceful march from Belfast to Derry were ambushed by a mob wielding stones, iron bars and sticks spiked with nails.

From Los Angeles Times

Act leader Seymour - who is also New Zealand's associate justice minister - argues that because the principles have never been properly defined legally, the courts "have been able to develop principles that have been used to justify actions that are contrary to the principle of equal rights".

From BBC

The US government is currently running an annual deficit - a shortfall between its spending and tax revenues - equal to around 6% of its economy.

From BBC

And America’s national debt held by the public is currently equal to around 97% of the size of the economy.

From BBC

They had been defeated for the first time by Italy in 2016 and fell to their then equal lowest-ever world ranking of sixth.

From BBC

Related Words

• balanced
• commensurate
• comparable
• corresponding
• equivalent
• identical
• proportionate