even

Less common meanings

4. 4
   flatadjective

   Flat and smooth, or at the same level as something else.

   The table wobbles because the legs are not even.

   Lay the tiles on an even floor.

   UsageYou can say more even.

   Similarflat, level, smooth, uniform

   Oppositeuneven, bumpy, rough

   Note
5. 5
   divisible by twoadjective

   Describes a number that can be split by two with nothing left over.

   All the houses on the left side of our street have even numbers.

   Is thirty-seven odd or even?

   UsageThe opposite is odd: 3 is odd, 4 is even.

   Oppositeodd

6. 6
   verbtransitive or intransitive

   To make something equal or balanced, or to become equal, like a score or a spread. Often used with out or up.

   A goal in the last minute helped our team even the score.

   Prices at the gas station should even out after the holiday rush.

   UsageA goal evens the score, and work evens out over time.

   Similarlevel, equalize, balance

7. 7
   adjective

   Not owing each other anything any more, because a debt or a wrong has been paid back.

   Pay me the ten dollars and we're even.

   You bought lunch last time, so now we're even.

   UsageCommon in we're even, get even and be even with someone.

   Similarquits, square

8. 8
   steadyadjective

   Steady, staying the same, without big changes.

   The nurse checked that the baby's breathing was slow and even.

   Keep an even pace and you'll finish the race.

   UsageOften an even temper: calm, not quick to get angry.

   Similarsteady, regular, calm, stable, equable

   Oppositeirregular, uneven, erratic

9. 9
   dusknounarchaic

   An old or poetic word for evening.

   The shepherd brought his sheep home at even, under the first stars.

   When ſparkling ſtars twire not thou guil'ſt th' eauen.

   1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 28”Here, even means evening.

   Note
10. 10
    adverbcolloquial

    Used after a word that corrects or goes beyond what you just said, as in 'six hours, seven even'.

    The trip took six hours, seven even, because of all the traffic.

    The test was hard, impossible even, for most of us.

    Similaractually

11. 11
    round numberadjective

    Exactly a round number, usually ending in zero, with nothing extra, as in 'an even hundred'.

    He bought an even hundred shares.

    Make it an even thousand and we have a deal.

    Similarround

    Note
12. 12
    make flatverbtransitive

    To make something flat and level.

    We need to even the ground near the west goal before the game.

    The bulldozers evened the ground for the new road.

    UsageOften even out the ground.

    Similarlevel, smooth, flatten, plane

    Note
13. 13
    number (maths)nouncountablediminutive

    In math talk, an even number, as in 'two evens and three odds'.

    In this card game, you score a point every time you draw an even.

    Pick an even, then pick an odd.

    UsageOften in odds and evens.

    Oppositeodd

14. 14
    adverbarchaic

    In old use, exactly, just, as in 'even so' or 'even as I promised'.

    But on the occasion in question, those dents looked deeper, even as his nervous step that morning left a deeper mark.

    1851, Herman Melville, Moby-DickHere, even means exactly or just, as in just as.

    You are leaving tonight? — Even so.

    Here, even so means exactly so, yes.

    Note
15. 15
    verbobsoletetransitive

    In old use, to settle accounts so that neither side owes anything.

    Note
16. 16
    verbobsoletetransitive

    An old word meaning to be the same as something, or to make two things the same.

    The Engliſh Earl [William Longespée the Younger], though he ſtood on the lower ground in point of birth, yet conceived himſelf to even him [Robert I, Count of Artois] in valour and martiall knowledge.

    1639, Thomas Fuller, “Discords betwixt the French and English; the Death & Disposition of Meladine King of Egypt”Here, even means be equal to someone.

    Note
17. 17
    adjectiveobsolete

    In old use, without any flaw, pure, as in 'my life so even'.

    I know my life so even.

    1613, William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher]Here, even means pure and without any flaw.

    Note
18. 18
    adjectiveobsolete

    In old use, fellow, of the same rank, as in 'his even servant'.

    Note
19. 19
    verbobsoletetransitive

    In old use, to put right or to finish something.

    Note