ev ‧ er S1 W1 /ˈevə $ ˈevər/ BrE AmE adverb
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: æfre ]
1 . a word meaning at any time; used mostly in questions, negatives, comparisons, or sentences with ‘if’:
Nothing ever seems to upset him.
Have you ever been to Paris?
I don’t think I’ve ever been here before.
If you’re ever in Seattle, come and see me.
2 . formal always:
Ever optimistic, I decided to take the exam again.
3 . hardly ever not very often:
We hardly ever go out.
4 . never ever spoken never:
You never ever offer to help!
5 . for ever for all time:
Nothing lasts for ever.
6 . as ever as always happens:
As ever, Joe was late.
7 . ever since continuously since:
My back has been bad ever since I fell and hurt it two years ago.
8 . ever after for all time after something:
I suppose they’ll get married and live happily ever after.
9 . hotter/colder/better etc than ever even hotter etc than before:
Last night’s show was better than ever.
10 . as friendly/cheerful/miserable etc as ever as friendly etc as someone or something usually is:
George was as miserable as ever.
The food was as bad as ever!
11 . ever so cold/wet/nice etc British English spoken very cold, wet etc:
The assistant was ever so helpful.
Thanks ever so much.
12 . ever such a British English used to emphasize what someone or something is like:
She’s ever such a nice girl.
13 . ever-increasing/ever-present etc increasing, present etc all the time:
the ever-increasing problem of drugs in the inner cities
14 . Yours ever/Ever yours informal used at the end of a letter above the signature
15 . if ever there was one informal used to say that someone or something is a typical example of something:
He’s a natural comedian if ever there was one.