ever

 
Pronunciation: /ˈɛvə/

adverb

  • 1 [usually with negative or in questions] at any time: nothing ever seemed to ruffle her don’t you ever regret giving up all that money?
  • used in comparisons for emphasis: they felt better than ever before our biggest ever range
  • 2at all times; always: ever the man of action, he was impatient with intellectuals caravan holidays remain as popular as ever they lived happily ever after [in combination]: he toyed with his ever-present cigar
  • 3 [with comparative] increasingly; constantly: having to borrow ever larger sums
  • 4used for emphasis in questions expressing astonishment or outrage: who ever heard of a grown man being frightened of the dark? why ever did you do it?

Phrases

ever again

[usually with negative] at any time in the future: I never have to set foot inside a classroom ever again I honestly cannot imagine ever again working in an office for someone else

ever and anon

archaic occasionally: ever and anon the stillness is rent by the scream of a gibbon
[from Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost ( v. ii. 101)]

ever since

throughout the period since: she had lived alone ever since her husband died

ever so/such

British informal very; very much: I am ever so grateful she’s ever such a pretty cat thanks ever so

for ever

see forever.

yours ever

(also ever yours)
a formula used to end an informal letter, before the signature.

Origin:

Old English ǣfre, of unknown origin