every

[ ev-ree ]

adjective

1. being one of a group or series taken collectively; each:

   We go there every day.

2. all possible; the greatest possible degree of:

   every prospect of success.

every

/ ˈɛvrɪ /

determiner

1. each one (of the class specified), without exception

   every child knows it

2. not used with a negative the greatest or best possible

   every hope of success

3. each: used before a noun phrase to indicate the recurrent, intermittent, or serial nature of a thing

   every third day

   every so often

   every now and then

4. every bit
   used in comparisons with as quite; just; equally

   every bit as funny as the other show

5. every other
   each alternate; every second

   every other day

6. every which way
   1. in all directions; everywhere

      I looked every which way for you

   2. from all sides

      stones coming at me every which way

Word History and Origins

Origin of every¹

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English every, everich, Old English ǣfre ǣlc, literally “ever each” (the first element of the phrase reinforcing the second); ever ( def ), each

Word History and Origins

Origin of every¹

C15 everich, from Old English ǣfre ǣlc, from ǣfre ever + ǣlc each

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. every bit, in every respect; completely:

   This is every bit as good as she says it is.

2. every now and then, on occasion; from time to time: Also every once in a while, every so often.

   She bakes her own bread every now and then.

3. every other, every second; every alternate:

   milk deliveries every other day.

4. every which way, in all directions; in disorganized fashion:

   I brushed against the table, and the cards fell every which way.

More idioms and phrases containing every

• at every turn
• each and every
• finger in the (every) pie
• living soul, every
• nook and cranny, every

Synonym Study

See each.

Example Sentences

Since the 1980s, Project 2025 asserted, Medicaid had “evolved into a cumbersome, complicated, and unaffordable burden on nearly every state.”

From Los Angeles Times

With those roles, Murray catapulted into a star, a heartthrob with a capital H. He became a fixture of the tabloids and every teen girl’s crush, with his winning smile, bad-boy charm and tattoos.

From Los Angeles Times

“Hannah taught me that every wheelchair user’s range of motion is different, so we would just go move by move and feel it out, like we do with any dancer.”

From Los Angeles Times

Agreed, he’s a 26-year-old superstar who would be worth every penny.

From Los Angeles Times

“Our homelessness has gotten worse in Fresno. It’s climbing every single day,” Martinez said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• all