even

¹

[ ee-vuhn ]

adjective

1. level; flat; smooth; without surface irregularities:

   The car can reach a top speed of 120 miles per hour on an even road.

   Synonyms: plane

   Antonyms: uneven, irregular

2. on the same level; in the same plane or line; parallel:

   Plunge the poles into the soil until the lines you marked are even with the ground.

3. free from variations or fluctuations; regular:

   He rocked the baby with a careful, even motion.

4. uniform in action, character, or quality:

   She governed successfully because she had managed to hold an even course between conflicting principles and parties.

5. equal in measure or quantity:

   Add even amounts of oil and vinegar.

6. (of a number) divisible by two ( odd ):

   The numbers 2, 16, and 30 are even.

7. denoted by a number divisible by two:

   There are small illustrations on the top of the even pages of the book.

8. exactly expressible in integers, or in tens, hundreds, etc., without fractional parts:

   It's an even seven miles there and back.

9. Mathematics. (of a function) having a sign that remains the same when the sign of each independent variable is changed at the same time.
10. equally balanced or divided; equal:

    Check to see if the scales are even.

11. leaving no balance of debt on either side; square:

    We will not be even until I can repay him for saving my life.

12. calm; placid; not easily excited or angered:

    If you're looking for a dog with an even temper and friendly personality, this breed is perfect.

    Synonyms: peaceful, composed, temperate, tranquil

    Antonyms: mercurial

13. equitable, impartial, or fair:

    After much wrangling, they finally came to an even bargain that suited everyone.

    Synonyms: just

    Antonyms: biased

adverb

1. evenly:

   The road ran even over the fields.

2. still; yet (used to emphasize a comparative):

   I liked your previous idea for Mom's gift, but I think this one is even more suitable.

3. (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.

4. (used to emphasize the occurrence or nonoccurrence of an event, or the simultaneity of events):

   Even as he lay dying, they argued over his estate.

   I loaned her my car for a whole week, but she didn't even fill the gas tank up before returning it to me.

5. fully or quite:

   I will protect my child even to my death.

6. indeed (used as an intensive for stressing the identity or truth of something):

   He is willing, even eager, to do it.

7. exactly or precisely:

   It was even so.

verb (used with object)

1. to make even; level; smooth (sometimes followed by out ):

   The first step is to even the board with a plane.

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

   I need to even up the accounts before I do my taxes.

verb (used without object)

1. to become even:

   The odds evened before the race.

verb phrase

1. 1. to make or become even, smooth, or flat:

      The wrinkles will even out when the suit dries.

   2. to become equal, balanced, stable, etc.:

      We were optimistic that the situation would even out eventually.

even

²

[ ee-vuhn ]

noun

, Archaic.

1. evening; eve.

Even

³

[ ey-wuhn, ev-uhn ]

noun

, plural E·vens, (especially collectively) E·ven

1. a member of a Siberian people living mainly in the Yakut Autonomous Republic in the Russian Federation.
2. the Tungusic language spoken by the Even.

even

¹

/ ˈiːvən /

adjective

1. level and regular; flat

   an even surface

2. postpositivefoll bywith on the same level or in the same plane (as)

   one surface even with another

3. without variation or fluctuation; regular; constant

   an even rate of progress

4. not readily moved or excited; placid; calm

   an even temper

5. equally balanced between two sides

   an even game

6. equal or identical in number, quantity, etc

   two even spoonfuls of sugar

7. 1. (of a number) divisible by two
   2. characterized or indicated by such a number Compare odd

      maps are on the even pages

8. 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

9. having no balance of debt; neither owing nor being owed
10. just and impartial; fair

    an even division

11. exact in number, amount, or extent

    an even pound

12. equal, as in score; level

    now the teams are even

13. maths (of a function) unchanged in value when the sign of the independent variable is changed, as in y = z ² See odd
14. even money
    1. a bet in which the winnings are the same as the amount staked
    2. ( as modifier )

       the even-money favourite

15. get even informal.
    to exact revenge (on); settle accounts (with)
16. of even date formal.
    law of the same or today's date

adverb

1. (intensifier; used to suggest that the content of a statement is unexpected or paradoxical)

   even an idiot can do that

2. (intensifier; used with comparative forms)

   this is even better

3. notwithstanding; in spite of

   even having started late she soon caught him up

4. used to introduce a more precise version of a word, phrase, or statement

   he is base, even depraved

5. 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

6. archaic.
   that is to say; namely (used for emphasis)

   he, even he, hath spoken these things

7. archaic.
   all the way; fully

   I love thee even unto death

8. even as
   conjunction at the very same moment or in the very same way that

   even as I spoke, it thundered

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

verb

1. to make or become even

even

²

/ ˈiːvən /

noun

1. an archaic word for eve evening

even

/ ē′vən /

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

Derived Forms

• ˈevener, noun
• ˈevenness, noun
• ˈevenly, adverb

Other Words From

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of even¹

First recorded before 900; (for the adjective) Middle English efn(e), emne, even, Old English ef(e)n; cognate with Gothic ibns, Old High German eban, Old Norse jafn “even, equal”; adverb and verb derivative of the adjective

Origin of even²

First recorded before 950; Middle English eve(n), Old English ǣfen, ēven; akin to German Abend, Old Frisian āvend, ēvend; evening

Origin of even³

< Russian ėvén < Evenki əwən

Word History and Origins

Origin of even¹

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

Origin of even²

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. break even, to have one's profits equal one's losses; neither gain nor lose:

   The company barely broke even last year.

2. get even, to be revenged; retaliate:

   He vowed to get even for the insult.

More idioms and phrases containing even

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

Synonym Study

See level.

Example Sentences

The benefits would be even larger if we reduced sugar consumption even further.

From Salon

Having long promised to gut the federal workforce and even eliminate some departments, Trump has foregone many of the norms associated with peacefully taking office.

From Salon

The film is a bewitching spectacle, a classic holiday season event movie that brims with enough earnestness to keep even its fluffiest moments from becoming corny intellectual property slop.

From Salon

The effect is even further fueled by our oceans, which absorb more than 90 percent of the heat caused by burning fossil fuels, producing water vapor that increases precipitation.

From Salon

He once described himself as a “politics junkie” and even in retirement he kept a close eye on Stormont, Westminster and the Dáil.

From BBC

Related Words

• indeed
• much

More About Even

What is a basic definition of even?

Even describes something as being flat or equal. Even is also used to intensify a statement. In math, even means a number is divisible by 2. The word even has many other senses as an adjective, adverb, and verb.

If a surface is even, it is flat or smooth. It doesn’t have any hills, bumps, or things sticking out of it. In a similar sense, even means a surface is level and doesn’t slant or slope.

• Real-life examples: An even coat of paint doesn’t have air pockets or isn’t heavier in one area (and, as a result, is a darker shade). Even skin is free of pimples, bumps, blisters, and possibly even hair.
• Used in a sentence: You need to set up the camera on even ground to get a great picture.

If two sides are even, they are equal or fairly distributed. For example, exchanging a 10-dollar bill for two 5-dollar bills is an even trade. Two basketball teams that each have five players have an even amount of players.

This sense of even is often used figuratively to refer to revenge. You might “get even” with someone by causing them a supposedly equal amount of suffering that you received earlier. However, people you get even with rarely see it as getting even.

• Real-life examples: A soccer match ending with a 1–1 score means the two teams have an even score. If you borrow $10 from someone, you need to pay them $10 back in order to be even with them. If you put even amounts of weight on two sides of a scale, you are putting the exact same amount on each side.
• Used in a sentence: Everybody got an even number of pizza slices to eat.

As an adverb, even is used as an intensifier. This sense of even is very versatile, indicating something is very unlikely, an extreme case, or a surprising comparison.

• Used in a sentence: Even my three-year-old daughter draws better than I do.

Even numbers can be divided by 2 without leaving a remainder or resulting in a decimal.

• Real-life examples: 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 are even numbers. 17 is not an even number because 17 divided by 2 equals 8.5 (or 8 with a remainder of 1).
• Used in a sentence: Somehow, I never have an even number of socks and always end up with a single sock sitting by itself in the drawer.

Where does even come from?

The first records of even come from before the 900s. It comes from the Old English efen and is related to the Old Norse jafn.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to even?

• uneven (adjective)
• evenly (adverb)
• evenness (noun)
• evener (noun)

What are some synonyms for even?

• flat
• smooth
• fair
• equal
• balanced
• much

What are some words that share a root or word element with even? 

• evenhanded
• even-minded
• even out
• even so
• even-steven

What are some words that often get used in discussing even?

• surface
• ground
• division
• two
• odd
• revenge
• debt
• exchange

How is even used in real life?

Even is a very common word that is often used to mean smooth or equal. Using even to intensify a statement is also very common.

I tripped on a completely even surface. How was your day?

— 1/963 (@nick_beeny) November 20, 2018

Being an adult means using different cushions of your new couch everytime you sit down so they get even amounts of wear.

— Kyle Kirkby (@kirkby_kyle) October 20, 2020

I didn’t even try to buy a PS5 because I don’t think I can handle the rejection

— Jess Brohard (@JessBrohard) September 17, 2020

Try using even!

True or False?

392 is an even number.