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even1

Pronunciation: /ˈiːv(ə)n/
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Definition of even

adjective (evener, evenest)

  • 1flat and smooth:prepare the site, then lay an even bed of mortar
  • in the same plane or line; level:run a file along the saw to make all of the teeth even with each other
  • 2equal in number, amount, or value:an even gender balance among staff and students
  • equally balanced:the first half of the match was fairly even
  • having little variation in quality; regular:they travelled at an even and leisurely pace
  • (of a person’s temper or disposition) equable; calm:she was known to have an even temper and to be difficult to rile
  • 3(of a number, such as 2, 6, or 108) divisible by two without a remainder: a meter that reads only in even numbers any number doubled is even
  • bearing a number that is divisible by two without a remainder:headers can be placed on odd or even pages or both

verb

  • make or become even: [with object]:she cut the hair again to even up the ends

adverb

  • used to emphasize something surprising or extreme:they have never even heard of the United States they wore fur hats, even in summer
  • used in comparisons for emphasis:he knows even less about it than I do

Phrases

even as

at the very same time as:even as he spoke their baggage was being unloaded

an even break

informal a fair chance:the fact is suckers never get an even break

an even chance

an equal likelihood of success or failure:the team has an even chance of winning

even if

despite the possibility that; no matter whether:always try everything even if it turns out to be a dud
despite the fact that:he is a great President, even if he has many enemies

even now (or then)

  • 1now (or then) as well as before:even now, after all these years, it upsets me
  • 2in spite of what has (or had) happened:even then he never raised his voice to me
  • 3at this (or that) very moment:very likely you are even now picking up the telephone to ring

even so

in spite of that; nevertheless:not the most exciting of places, but even so I was having a good time

even though

despite the fact that:even though he was bigger, he never looked down on me

get (or be) even

informal inflict similar trouble or harm on someone to that which they have inflicted on oneself:I’ll get even with you for this

of even date

Law or formal of the same date.

on an even keel

(of a ship or aircraft) not listing or tilting to one side.
(of a person or situation) functioning normally after a period of difficulty:getting her life back on to an even keel after their break-up had been difficult

Derivatives

evenly

adverb

evenness

Pronunciation: /ˈiːv(ə)nnɪs/
noun

Origin:

Old English efen (adjective), efne (adverb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch even, effen and German eben

even in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of even in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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