INDEX:
1. the same in number, amount, level etc as something else
2. having equal rights
3. equal in quality, standard, or ability
4. to be in an equal position in a game, competition etc
5. to make two numbers, amounts, situations etc equal
6. when two amounts, levels, etc are equal
7. when something has an equal but opposite effect
8. not equal in number, amount, level etc
9. not having equal rights
RELATED WORDS
see also
↑ SAME
↑ FAIR
↑ UNFAIR
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1. the same in number, amount, level etc as something else
▷ equal /ˈiːkwəl/ [adjective]
▪ You should spend an equal amount of time on each question in the test.
▪ Dilute the syrup with an equal volume of water, stir and serve with ice.
equal to
▪ The alcohol in a pint of beer is equal to that in two glasses of wine.
▪ The distance between A and B in the diagram is equal to the diameter of the circle, C.
of equal size/length/weight/power/strength etc
▪ When facing an opponent of equal strength, Barker’s speed gives her a big advantage.
equally [adverb]
divide/share something equally
▪ The money was divided equally between their three children.
▷ as old/strong/long etc as /əz ˈəʊld əz/
something that is as old, strong, long etc as something else is of equal age, strength, length etc :
▪ At fourteen Jeremy was already as tall as his father.
▪ The nation was once more as strong as the other major powers in Europe.
▪ Harry was lively and intelligent, but not as good-looking as his older brother.
▷ be the same /biː ðə ˈseɪm/ [verb phrase]
if two amounts, levels etc are the same they are equal :
▪ The northern route is longer than the southern one, but the fare is the same.
▪ The experiment was repeated by Professor Schwartz, and the results were the same.
be the same size/weight/power etc
▪ The two cars are roughly the same size, and have similar engines.
be the same height/age etc as
▪ Her sister is the same age as me.
exactly/roughly the same
▪ We’re both exactly the same height.
▷ equivalent /ɪˈkwɪv ə lənt/ [adjective]
something such as an amount, level, or quantity that is equivalent to something else has an equal effect or result but is not completely the same as it :
▪ If these prizes are not in stock we will send you an equivalent gift of the same value.
equivalent to
▪ The volcanic eruption on Krakatoa had an explosive power equivalent to 20,000 tons of TNT.
▪ Unemployed workers receive welfare payments and rent assistance equivalent to 50% of their usual income.
▷ equal /ˈiːkwəl/ [transitive verb not in progressive]
to be exactly equal to a number, amount, or level - used especially in technical or scientific contexts :
▪ Air pressure at sea level equals 1.03kg per square centimetre.
▪ The most efficient basis for the trade of goods is when demand equals supply.
▷ match /mætʃ/ [transitive verb]
to be equal in number or amount to something that is itself already very high or very great :
▪ The only cars which could match the acceleration of the Ferraris were the Shelby Cobras and Aston Martins.
▪ Forming alliances with other countries was the only way to match the power of the enemy.
▷ keep pace with /kiːp ˈpeɪs wɪð/ [verb phrase]
to increase quickly enough to remain equal to something else which is also increasing quickly :
▪ There has been a constant expansion of the city boundaries to keep pace with a growing population.
▪ Working-class incomes have generally kept pace with increases in the cost of living.
2. having equal rights
▷ equal /ˈiːkwəl/ [adjective]
people who are equal have the same rights as each other and are treated in the same way as each other; if people get equal treatment, pay etc, they are all treated in the same way or get paid the same money :
▪ Democracy is based on the idea that all members of society are equal.
equal rights
the idea that all types of people in society should have the same rights and should be treated fairly and equally
▪ Black protestors campaigned for equal rights throughout the 1960s.
equal opportunities
the idea that all types of people in society should have the same chances of employment
▪ Companies are being urged to do more to promote equal opportunities in the workplace.
equal pay
▪ The Treaty of Rome states that men and women shall receive equal pay for equal work.
equally [adverb]
▪ People should be treated equally, regardless of their race or sex.
▷ equality /ɪˈkwɒlɪti, ɪˈkwɒlətiǁɪˈkwɑː-/ [uncountable noun]
when all people have the same rights and opportunities in society and are treated equally :
▪ Greater equality was one of the aims of the post-war government.
racial/sexual equality
▪ the struggle for sexual equality
▪ It will take more than laws to bring about genuine racial equality.
▷ on an equal footing /ɒn ən ˌiːkwəl ˈfʊtɪŋ/ [adjective phrase]
people, countries, or organizations that are on an equal footing in a particular situation are being treated as equal, even though this would not happen in other places or situations :
▪ It’s the beginning of the course, so you’re all on an equal footing.
place/put somebody on an equal footing
treat them in the same way
▪ It wasn’t until 1928, that divorce laws were reformed to put men and women on an equal footing.
▷ equal /ˈiːkwəl/ [countable noun usually plural]
someone who has the same rights, advantages, and position in society as someone else, with the result that they can have equal respect for each other :
▪ Most women these days want marriage to be a partnership of equals.
treat people as equals
show equal respect to all people
▪ The police have a duty to treat all members of the community as equals.
▷ peer /pɪəʳ/ [countable noun]
someone who has the same background or position in society as you - used especially in technical or official contexts :
▪ The jury system gives you the basic right to be judged by your peers.
▪ Everyone wants to be successful in the eyes of their peers.
▪ At about three years old, children begin to take an interest in their peers.
▷ parity /ˈpærɪti, ˈpærəti/ [uncountable noun] formal
the state of being measurably equal, for example by receiving equal wages or having equal numbers of jobs as another group - used especially in political contexts :
parity with
▪ Part-time workers are demanding parity with their full-time colleagues.
▪ Middle class blacks in the US have not yet achieved parity with whites in graduate school entries.
3. equal in quality, standard, or ability
▷ be as good as /biː əz ˈgʊd əz/ [verb phrase]
▪ I don’t think she ever recorded a song as good as ‘Stormy Weather’.
▪ They say that the new Argentinian striker will be as good as Maradona.
▪ ‘How’s the strawberry flavor?’ ‘It’s OK, but not as good as the chocolate one.’
▷ be equal to /biː ˈiːkwəl tuː/ [verb phrase]
to be as good or as important as all the other things that are available :
be equal to anyone/anything
▪ There’s no doubt that she can produce work that is equal to anyone else’s in her class.
▪ The architecture here is equal to anything found in Florence or Rome.
▷ equally /ˈiːkwəli/ [adverb]
equally strong/good/difficult etc
equal in strength, quality etc :
▪ Chantal Johnson was brought up in Canada, and is equally fluent in French and English.
▪ The meat can then be baked, grilled, or sautéed with equally good results.
▪ Danny has great skill as a football player, and, equally important, the determination that you need to succeed.
▷ equal/match /ˈiːkwəl, mætʃ/ []
to be as good as something else or equal in size, speed, power etc :
▪ No one has ever equalled her performance as Juliet.
▪ The cloth dyers of ancient Tyre produced beautiful colours that have never been equalled by even the finest synthetic dyes.
be matched/equalled only by something
▪ The facilities at the club were only matched by one or two other clubs in Europe.
▷ rival /ˈraɪv ə l/ [transitive verb]
to be almost as good, impressive, or successful as something that is very good, impressive etc :
▪ The college’s facilities rival those of Harvard or Yale.
rival something in something
▪ The new aeroplane would rival its competitors in terms of noise, range and versatility.
▪ The prince built a vast palace, rivalling Versailles in size and opulence.
▷ be on a par with /biː ɒn ə ˈpɑːʳ wɪð/ [verb phrase]
to be as good or almost as good as something that is very good :
▪ The acquisition of Walker puts the company on a par with its rivals in France and Germany.
▪ Donald showed up with a woman called Pandora, whose beauty was on a par with any film star.
▷ be evenly matched /biː ˌiːv ə nli ˈmætʃt◂/ [verb phrase]
if competitors or opponents are evenly matched they have almost equal ability, so a game or competition between them will be very even :
▪ The two wrestlers were evenly matched.
▪ It seems that the teams are pretty evenly matched, but the French players are probably more experienced.
▷ there’s nothing to choose between /ðeəʳz ˌnʌθɪŋ tə ˈtʃuːz bɪtwiːn/ British
you say there’s nothing to choose between two things or people when they are both equally good and you cannot say which is better :
▪ After the interviews we had to admit there was nothing to choose between the two candidates.
▪ There’s really nothing to choose between the performance of these two cars.
4. to be in an equal position in a game, competition etc
▷ tie /taɪ/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
if two of the competitors in a game or competition tie, they get the same number of points :
be tied
▪ The two teams are tied with two games a piece.
tie for
▪ Woosnam and Lyle tied for fourth place on 264.
tie with
▪ I won the first competition and tied with Wilson in the second.
tie [countable noun]
▪ If there is a tie if two competitors get the same score
▪ the prize money will be split.
▷ be level /biː ˈlev ə l/ [adjective not before noun] British
two teams or competitors that are level at a particular moment in a game or competition have the same number of points :
▪ They scored in the eighth minute but four minutes later we were level.
▪ If the scores are level after 90 minutes, extra time will be played.
be level with
▪ Thanks to today’s victory they are level with their main rivals, AC Milan, at the top of the Italian league.
draw level
get enough points to be level
▪ Brazil were in the lead, until Argentina drew level at the half-time whistle.
▷ be neck and neck also be level pegging British /biː ˌnek ən ˈnek, biː ˌlev ə l ˈpegɪŋ/ [verb phrase] informal
use this when two people, horses etc are doing equally well in a race or competition, so that it is impossible to guess who will win :
▪ The two horses are running neck and neck.
▪ For three miles now both yachts have been neck and neck.
▪ The Republicans and Democrats are neck and neck in the opinion polls.
▪ The poll shows the two main parties level pegging, with 33% of the vote each.
▷ draw /drɔː/ [countable noun] especially British
a game in which both opponents or teams have equal points at the end, so that neither wins :
▪ Neither side has scored. It looks as if it’s going to be another draw.
▪ Last week’s draw was a bad result for Arsenal, putting Manchester United ahead of them in the league.
end in a draw
finish with scores equal
▪ If the final ends in a draw, the game will be decided on penalties.
▷ draw /drɔː/ [intransitive/transitive verb] British
to finish a game with the same number of points as your opponent, so that neither of you wins :
▪ ‘Did you win?’ ‘No, we drew.’
draw with
▪ Real Madrid drew with Barcelona in the last game of the season.
draw a game/match
▪ The Australian rugby team drew the first game of their European tour, sixteen-all against France at Lyon.
▷ be two all/be four all etc /biː ˌtuː ˈɔːl/ [verb phrase] spoken
say this when both players or teams have two points, four points etc in a game :
▪ It’s two all at the moment, but Germany seems the better team.
▪ ‘What was the final score?’ ‘One all.’
▷ photo finish /ˌfəʊtəʊ ˈfɪnɪʃ/ [countable noun]
a finish to a race between horses, dogs, or people that is very nearly equal so that it is extremely difficult to say who has won :
▪ It’s a photo finish -- we’ll have to bring in the judges to decide the winner.
▪ After a very close-run race, it ended in a photo finish.
▷ be too close to call /tuː ˌkləʊs tə ˈkɔːl/ [verb phrase]
if the result of a competition, election, race etc is too close to call, the people taking part in it are equally successful, so there is no clear winner :
▪ The exit polls suggest that the election may well be too close to call.
5. to make two numbers, amounts, situations etc equal
▷ balance /ˈbæləns/ [transitive verb]
▪ As a parent trying to balance home and career, it’s very difficult to find time for a social life.
balance something with something
▪ No government so far has been able to balance the number of jobs available with the number of people out of work.
▷ equalize also equalise British /ˈiːkwəlaɪz/ [transitive verb]
to change things so that people are treated equally, especially in their employment :
▪ The Association of Women Teachers in New York fought to equalize male and female pay.
▪ Miners demanded a standard rate throughout the country to equalize wages.
▷ balance out /ˌbæləns ˈaʊt/ [intransitive phrasal verb]
if two amounts, numbers etc balance out, they become equal or have an equal effect, especially if this happens over a fairly long period of time :
▪ Sometimes we have a slight loss and sometimes a slight surplus, but over time they balance out.
▪ Sometimes I do the cooking and sometimes John does - so in the end it all balances out.
▷ even out /ˌiːv ə n ˈaʊt/ [intransitive phrasal verb]
if two amounts, or levels even out or you even them out, the differences between them gradually become smaller :
even out something
▪ On cold days the device periodically provides a burst of hot air, to even out the air temperature.
even something out
▪ We want to even the workload out a little, so that no one has more than they can handle.
▷ strike a balance /ˌstraɪk ə ˈbæləns/ [verb phrase]
to achieve a situation in which you give the correct amount of attention and importance to two opposing activities or ideas :
▪ Most reporters are either violently for or violently against the government, but some try to strike a balance.
strike a balance between
▪ School children have to learn to strike a balance between work and play.
▪ Prison reformers are trying to strike a balance between punishing offenders and helping them to avoid repeating their offences.
▷ redress the balance /rɪˌdres ðə ˈbæləns/ [verb phrase]
to make a situation equal or fair again after it has not been fair or equal :
▪ Eventually, if the population of one species rises too much a new epidemic will come along to redress the balance.
▪ Gypsies have often been portrayed as lawless savages, and the film tries to redress the balance by showing their culture as it really is.
▷ make up for /ˌmeɪk ˈʌp fɔːʳ/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to replace or balance something good that has been lost or something bad that has been done, by providing or doing something good :
▪ Nothing they can do will make up for the damage they have caused.
▪ He had to work twice as hard as the other children to make up for his lack of natural ability.
more than make up for
make up for something very well
▪ The weather was a bit cold, but the beautiful scenery more than made up for it.
▷ compensate for /ˈkɒmpənseɪt fɔːʳǁˈkɑːm-/ [verb phrase]
to replace or balance something good that has been lost or is lacking, by providing or doing something equally good :
▪ Ray tries to compensate for his shyness by telling a lot of jokes.
▪ It is hoped that the new car’s style and design will compensate for its lack of speed.
▪ Failures in this area will have to be compensated for by successes in other areas.
6. when two amounts, levels, etc are equal
▷ balance /ˈbæləns/ [singular noun]
balance between
▪ Take care to achieve a balance between career and home life.
▪ Migration plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance between population and resources.
strike a balance/strike the right balance
succeed in finding a balance
▪ When dealing with his staff, Mr Allen somehow managed to strike the right balance between being sympathetic and businesslike.
upset the balance
change and harm the balance
▪ The biological balance is upset by over-intensive farming.
▷ equilibrium /ˌiːkwɪˈlɪbriəm, ˌiːkwəˈlɪbriəm/ [singular noun]
a state in which two or more forces, such as temperature and pressure, remain at a particular level, but would all change if any one of them were changed - used especially in technical or scientific contexts :
maintain an equilibrium
▪ The operation of the free market maintains an equilibrium between supply, demand and price.
be in equilibrium
be balanced, equal etc
▪ The temperature at which the solid and liquid are in equilibrium is called the freezing point.
7. when something has an equal but opposite effect
▷ cancel out /ˌkæns ə l iːtʃ ʌðər ˈaʊt/ [transitive phrasal verb]
if one thing cancels out another, it has an opposite effect to it, so that the situation does not change :
▪ The new tuition fees mean that increases in student grants are effectively cancelled out.
cancel each other out/cancel one another out
▪ Two waves coming from opposite directions will cancel each other out.
▪ Capital gains and losses can be expected to cancel one another out.
▷ offset /ˈɒfset, ˌɒfˈsetǁˈɔːfset, ˌɔːfˈset/ [transitive verb]
if something such as a cost or a sum of money offsets another cost, sum etc, it has an opposite effect so that the situation remains unchanged :
▪ The savings on staff wages are offset by the increased maintenance costs.
▪ $3000 was spent in US schools to offset the disadvantages of about 6 million school children.
▷ counterbalance /ˌkaʊntəʳˈbæləns/ [transitive verb]
to have an equal and opposite effect to something such as a change, an influence, or a feeling :
▪ Fortunately there are strong democratic forces in the country that counterbalance any extremist influences.
▪ His fear of his father is counterbalanced by a genuine respect for him.
▷ it’s swings and roundabouts/it cuts both ways /ɪts ˌswɪŋz ənd ˈraʊndəbaʊts, ɪt ˌkʌts bəʊθ ˈweɪz/ British spoken
use this to say that although a particular method, decision, situation etc might give you an advantage, it will also involve an equal disadvantage :
▪ Well, it’s a case of swings and roundabouts really. You win some, you lose some.
▪ The global economy can cut both ways, as some of a country’s industries benefit from increased opportunity, and others lose to overseas competition.
8. not equal in number, amount, level etc
▷ unequal /ʌnˈiːkwəl/ [adjective]
▪ People are paid unequal amounts because they have unequal talents.
of unequal size/length etc
▪ two pieces of wood of unequal length
unequal in size/length etc
▪ The boxers were so unequal in size that it was never really a true contest.
▷ disproportionate /ˌdɪsprəˈpɔːʳʃ ə nɪt◂, ˌdɪsprəˈpɔːʳʃ ə nət◂/ [adjective]
a disproportionate share of something is higher than it should be because the thing has not been shared equally :
▪ Children who disrupt lessons at school take up a disproportionate amount of the teacher’s time.
▪ The report shows that a disproportionate number of black women do unskilled, low-paid work.
▪ The richest areas of the country are getting a disproportionate share of government grants.
disproportionately [adverb]
▪ The poorer cities of the industrial north have disproportionately high rates of child mortality.
▷ imbalance /ɪmˈbæləns/ [countable/uncountable noun]
a state in which two things are not equal, especially if this is unfair or causes problems :
▪ Eighty per cent of our wealth belongs to five per cent of the people, and there’s no legislation to counter this imbalance.
▪ At the higher levels of management, there’s definitely a gender imbalance.
imbalance between
▪ The economy is failing because of the great imbalance between imports and exports.
imbalance in/of
▪ the imbalance of power between women and men in nineteenth-century America
▪ The company was ordered to remedy the racial imbalance in its workforce.
9. not having equal rights
▷ inequality /ˌɪnɪˈkwɒlɪti, ˌɪnɪˈkwɒlətiǁ-ˈkwɑː-/ [countable/uncountable noun]
when people do not have the same rights or opportunities in their education, their jobs etc, because of their sex, race, or social class :
▪ The report looks at inequality in education.
▪ There are still a lot of inequalities in society.
social/sexual/racial inequality
▪ Social inequality tended to increase rather than lessen in the 1980s.
▷ discrimination /dɪˌskrɪmɪˈneɪʃ ə n, dɪˌskrɪməˈneɪʃ ə n/ [uncountable noun]
when people are treated unfairly because of their race, sex, age etc :
▪ Federal law forbids discrimination on the basis of race, sex, or color.
▪ Immigrants faced harassment and discrimination, and were paid considerably less than their white colleagues.
discrimination against
▪ Laws have got to be tougher to stop discrimination against the disabled.
▪ In 1974 IBM became the first American company to bar discrimination against gay workers.
discrimination in
▪ They managed to reform American law, and ban racial and religious discrimination in housing, schools, and the workplace.
racial/sex/age discrimination
▪ The most common victims of age discrimination are employees in their mid-50s.
▪ The company was found guilty of racial discrimination, and was ordered to renew Ms. Jayalalitha’s employment contract.
anti-discrimination law/legislation/policy
a law etc that forbids discrimination
▪ An insurance company is being investigated under federal anti-discrimination laws for refusing home insurance to a black Ohio couple.
▷ unequal /ʌnˈiːkwəl/ [adjective]
unequal treatment, relationships, conditions etc are unfair to some of the people involved because they do not have equal rights or advantages :
▪ The unequal distribution of wealth is a feature of our system of government.
▪ When people are forced to compete on unequal terms they become resentful.
▪ It was an unequal relationship. He was rich, powerful and experienced -- I was very young and naive.