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WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026e•ven1 /ˈivən/USA pronunciation
adj.
- without bumps on the surface;
regular;
smooth:an even road.
- on the same level;
in the same plane or line;
parallel:even with the ground.
- free from sudden changes;
uniform;
regular;
constant:a steady, even sound.
- Mathematics(of a number) that can be divided by two without a remainder:1,024 is an even number.
- Mathematics denoted by or having such a number:[before a noun]the even pages of a book.
- Mathematics[before a noun] exactly expressed in whole numbers.
- equal in measure or quantity:even amounts of oil and vinegar.
- equally balanced or divided;
equal:an even exchange.
- leaving no balance of debt on either side:[be + ~]I lent you my car last week; if you lend me yours this week we'll be even.
- calm;
not easily excited or angered;
placid:an even temper.
- equitable or fair:an even bargain.
adv.
- evenly;
in an even manner;
smoothly:The road ran even over the fields.
- (used with a comparative word to emphasize the comparison, or to mean "still'' or "yet''):That arrangement is acceptable, but this one is even more suitable.
- (used with a superlative adjective, or with the conjunction if, to suggest that some possibility is unlikely to happen): [before an adjective]Even the slightest noise disturbs him.[~ + if]Even if she comes, she may not stay.
- (used to connect clauses to emphasize that the occurrence of one event is almost at the same time as the other):Even as help was coming, the troops surrendered.
- fully or quite:ready to fight even unto death.
- (used to stress or emphasize the truth of something):He is willing, even eager.
- exactly or precisely:It was even so.
v.
- to make level, smooth, or equal:[~ + object]worked all day to even the pavement.
- even out, to make or become level, smooth, or equal: [no object]The wrinkles will even out when the suit dries.[~ + out + object]They need two home runs to even out the score.
Idioms
- Idioms, Business break even, [no obj] to have one's profits equal one's losses;
to neither gain nor lose:The company was managing only to break even.
- Idioms get even, [no obj] to get revenge;
retaliate;
strike back:to get even for the insult.
e•ven•ly, adv.
e•ven•ness, n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026e•ven1
(ē′vən),USA pronunciation adj.
- level;
flat;
without surface irregularities;
smooth:an even road.
- on the same level;
in the same plane or line;
parallel:even with the ground.
- free from variations or fluctuations;
regular:even motion.
- uniform in action, character, or quality:to hold an even course.
- equal in measure or quantity:Add even amounts of oil and vinegar.
- Mathematicsdivisible by two, as a number (opposed to odd).
- Mathematicsdenoted by such a number:the even pages of a book.
- Mathematicsexactly expressible in integers, or in tens, hundreds, etc., without fractional parts:an even seven miles.
- Mathematics(of a function) having a sign that remains the same when the sign of each independent variable is changed at the same time.
- equally balanced or divided;
equal:Check to see if the scales are even.
- leaving no balance of debt on either side;
square:We will not be even until I can repay him for saving my life.
- calm;
placid;
not easily excited or angered:an even temper.
- equitable, impartial, or fair:an even bargain.
adv.
- evenly:The road ran even over the fields.
- still;
yet (used to emphasize a comparative):even more suitable.
- (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.
- just (used to emphasize occurrence, coincidence, or simultaneousness of occurrences):Even as he lay dying, they argued over his estate.
- fully or quite:even to death.
- indeed (used as an intensive for stressing the identity or truth of something):He is willing, even eager, to do it.
- exactly or precisely:It was even so.
- Business break even, to have one's profits equal one's losses;
neither gain nor lose:The company barely broke even last year.
- Idioms get even, to be revenged;
retaliate:He vowed to get even for the insult.
v.t.
- to make even;
level;
smooth (sometimes fol. by out):to even a board with a plane.
- to place in an even state as to claim or obligation;
balance (often fol. by up):to even up accounts.
v.i.
- to become even:The odds evened before the race.
- even out:
- to make or become even, smooth, or flat:The wrinkles will even out when the suit dries.
- to become equal, balanced, stable, etc.:optimistic that the situation would even out eventually.
- bef. 900; (adjective, adjectival) Middle English; Old English efen; cognate with Gothic ibns, Old High German eban, Old Norse jafn even, equal; (adverb, adverbial) Middle English even(e), Old English efne, derivative of the adjective, adjectival; (verb, verbal) Middle English evenen, Old English efnan to lower, derivative of the adjective, adjectival
1. plane. See level. 12. tranquil, temperate, composed, peaceful. 13. just.
1. irregular. 12. mercurial. 13. biased.
e•ven2
(ē′vən),USA pronunciation n. [Archaic.]- evening;
eve.
- bef. 950; Middle English; Old English ǣfen; akin to German Abend, Old Frisian ēvend. See evening
- Language Varietiesa member of a Siberian people living mainly in the Yakut Autonomous Republic in the Russian Federation.
- Language Varietiesthe Tungusic language spoken by the Even. Also called Lamut.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
even /ˈiːvən/ adj - level and regular; flat
- (postpositive) followed by with: on the same level or in the same plane (as)
- without variation or fluctuation; regular; constant
- not readily moved or excited; placid; calm: an even temper
- equally balanced between two sides: an even game
- equal or identical in number, quantity, etc
- (of a number) divisible by two
- characterized or indicated by such a number: maps are on the even pages
Compare odd
- 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
- having no balance of debt; neither owing nor being owed
- just and impartial; fair
- exact in number, amount, or extent: an even pound
- equal, as in score; level
- even money ⇒
- a bet in which the winnings are the same as the amount staked
- (as modifier): the even-money favourite
- get even ⇒ informal to exact revenge (on); settle accounts (with)
adv - (intensifier; used to suggest that the content of a statement is unexpected or paradoxical): even an idiot can do that
- (intensifier; used with comparative forms): this is even better
- notwithstanding; in spite of
- used to introduce a more precise version of a word, phrase, or statement: her work is gloomy, even morbid
- 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
- archaic all the way; fully: I love thee even unto death
- even as ⇒ (conjunction) at the very same moment or in the very same way that
- even so ⇒ in spite of any assertion to the contrary: nevertheless
See also break evenEtymology: Old English efen; related to Old Norse jafn even, equal, Gothic ibns, Old High German ebanˈevener n ˈevenly adv ˈevenness n even /ˈiːvən/ n - an archaic word for eve, evening
Etymology: Old English ǣfen; related to Old Frisian ēvend, Old High German āband
'get even' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
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