ever

[ ev-er ]

adverb

1. at all times; always:

   an ever-present danger; He is ever ready to find fault.

   Synonyms: constantly, eternally, perpetually

   Antonyms: never

2. continuously:

   ever since then.

3. at any time:

   Have you ever seen anything like it?

4. in any possible case; by any chance; at all (often used to intensify or emphasize a phrase or an emotional reaction as surprise or impatience):

   How did you ever manage to do it? If the band ever plays again, we will dance.

adjective

1. South Midland and Southern U.S. every:

   She rises early ever morning.

ever

/ ˈɛvə /

adverb

1. at any time

   have you ever seen it?

2. by any chance; in any case

   how did you ever find out?

3. at all times; always

   ever busy

4. in any possible way or manner

   come as fast as ever you can

5. informal.
   (intensifier, in the phrases ever so, ever such, and ever such a )

   ever such a waste

   ever such bad luck

   ever so good

6. ever and again or ever and anon archaic.
   now and then; from time to time
7. is he ever! slang.
   he displays the quality concerned in abundance

Word History and Origins

Origin of ever¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English ǣfre

Word History and Origins

Origin of ever¹

Old English ǣfre, of uncertain origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. ever and again, now and then; from time to time. Also Literary, ever and anon.
2. ever so, to a great extent or degree; exceedingly:

   They were ever so kind to me.

More idioms and phrases containing ever

In addition to the idiom beginning with ever , also see hardly ever ; live happily ever after .

Synonym Study

See always.

Example Sentences

Before he’d ever played the position, Jayden Maiava had a sense of what a Samoan quarterback could mean to his community.

From Los Angeles Times

In his own family, where football roots ran generations deep, no one had ever tried the position.

From Los Angeles Times

“He’s been a quarterback pretty much ever since,” Moenoa says.

From Los Angeles Times

The 47-year-old said it was the worst he had ever seen in the 35 years his family had been running shops on the famous mile.

From BBC

"Full House" stars and friends John Stamos and Dave Coulier's bond is as strong as ever.

From Salon

Related Words

• consistently
• constantly
• continually
• forever
• regularly
• usually