I. e ‧ ven 1 S1 W1 /ˈiːv ə n/ BrE AmE adverb
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: efne , from efen ; ⇨ ↑ even 2 ]
1 . used to emphasize something that is unexpected or surprising in what you are saying:
Most companies have suffered a drop in their profits, even very large companies.
It was quite difficult to see, even with the light on.
He became quite successful and even appeared on a television show once.
She did not even bother to phone us.
He never even acknowledged my letter.
2 . even bigger/better/brighter etc used to emphasize that someone or something is bigger, better etc:
This will make our job even more difficult.
The news was even worse than we expected.
The new version is even better than the old one.
3 . used to add a stronger, more exact word to what you are saying:
Some patients become depressed, even suicidal.
4 . even so spoken used to introduce something that is true although it is different from something that you have just said:
I know he’s only a child, but even so he should have known that what he was doing was wrong.
5 . even if used to emphasize that something will still be true if another thing happens:
She’s going to have problems finding a job even if she gets her A levels.
6 . even though used to emphasize that something is true although something else has happened or is true:
Even though he’s 24 now, he’s still like a little child.
I can still remember, even though it was so long ago.
7 . even now/then in spite of what has happened:
Even now I find it hard to believe that he lied.
They invested in new machinery and equipment, but even then the business was still losing money.
8 . even as used to emphasize that something happens at the same moment as something else:
He realized, even as he spoke, that no one would ever believe him.
• • •
GRAMMAR
Even usually goes before the word or phrase that you want to emphasize because it is surprising:
▪
Even young students were aware of how things had changed.
▪
There is wildlife even in the centre of town.
With a verb, even goes after the first auxiliary, if there is one:
▪
I have even offered to pay for everything.
▪
He can’t even spell his own name.
Even is not used to introduce another clause. Use even if , even though , or even when :
▪
Even if it’s raining (NOT Even it’s raining), we go for a walk every day.
▪
They feel anxious even when things are going well.
► You can use still in a main clause after a clause beginning with one of these expressions, but do not use 'but' or 'yet':
▪
Even though we’re completely different, we’re still great friends (NOT but/yet we’re great friends).
II. even 2 BrE AmE adjective
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: efen ]
1 . LEVEL flat and level, with no parts that are higher than other parts OPP uneven :
The floor must be completely even before we lay the tiles.
You need a flat, even surface to work on.
He had lovely white, even teeth.
2 . NOT CHANGING an even rate, speed, or temperature is steady and does not change:
The room is kept at an even temperature.
Wood burns at a fairly even rate.
3 . DIVIDED EQUALLY divided equally, so that there is the same amount of something in each place, for each person etc:
Divide the dough into three even amounts.
an even distribution of wealth
4 . NUMBER an even number can be divided exactly by two OPP odd :
2, 4, 6 and 8 are even numbers.
5 . COMPETITION having teams or competitors that are equally good so that everyone has a chance of winning:
The first half was very even, and neither side scored.
an even contest
6 . SCORES if the score in a game is even, two teams or players have the same number of points:
At the end of the first half the score is even.
7 . be even informal to no longer owe someone something, especially money:
If you give me $5, we’ll be even.
8 . CALM calm and controlled, and not extreme:
He read most of the speech in an even tone.
9 . an even chance a situation in which it is just as likely that something will happen as not happen:
I think we have an even chance of winning.
We knew there was an even chance that the operation would fail.
10 . get even (with somebody) informal to do something unpleasant to someone to punish them for something that they did to you SYN get revenge (on somebody) :
I’ll get even with him one day.
11 . break even to neither make a profit nor lose money:
We’re hoping that we’ll at least break even, and perhaps make a small profit.
⇨ ↑ even-tempered
—evenness noun [uncountable]
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ flat on one level, without any holes or raised areas, and not sloping or curving:
a flat roof
|
a flat screen
|
Before you lay the tiles, make sure that the ground is completely flat.
▪ level not sloping in any direction, so that every part is at the same height:
Is the top of this picture level?
|
After four hours coming down the mountain, I was glad to be back on level ground.
▪ smooth without any holes or raised areas – used especially when saying how something feels when you touch it:
her lovely smooth skin
|
I ran my hand across the animal’s smooth fur.
▪ even without any holes or raised areas:
Apply the paint to an even surface.
|
Be careful – the path is not very even here.
▪ horizontal going straight across and not sloping:
a horizontal line
|
Raise both arms to a horizontal position.
III. even 3 BrE AmE verb
even out phrasal verb
if things even out, or if you even them out, the differences between them become smaller SYN level out :
The differences in their income should even out over time.
even something ↔ out
Use a brush to even out the variations in colour.
even something ↔ up phrasal verb
to make a situation or competition more equal:
We put on a couple of more experienced players to even things up a bit.