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

When all is said and done, virtually every area of public policy is connected in some fashion to national security, robustly defined.

From Salon

“The air, as you can see, is very polluted and I have to work here every day, so it definitely affects our health.”

From BBC

“These are real challenges, and you will encounter industry opposition at every turn.”

From BBC

Their lives were chronicled every seven years — at age 14, 21, 28 and so on.

From New York Times

It’s not every day that Dawn Staley, coach of South Carolina, the No. 1-ranked women’s basketball team, walks into a Southern California gym.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• all