even

Adjective

even (comparative evener or more even, superlative evenest or most even)

1. Flat and level.
   • Clear out those rocks. The surface must be even.

   Synonyms:

   flat

2. Without great variation.
   • Despite her fear, she spoke in an even voice.

   Synonyms:

   regular

3. Equal in proportion, quantity, size, etc.
   • The distribution of food must be even.
   • Call it even.
4. (not comparable) Of an integer, divisible by two.
   • Four, fourteen and forty are even numbers.
5. (informal) Of a number, convenient for rounding other numbers to; for example, ending in a zero.
   • Coles. How many shares have you bought, Mr. Garfinkle?
     Garfinkle. One hundred and ninety-six thousand.[…]
     Jorgenson. […] How'd you figure out to buy such an odd amount? Why not two hundred thousand — nice even number. Thought you liked nice even numbers.1989, Jerry Sterner, Other People's Money, act I
   • He put me on the scale in my underwear and socks: 82 pounds.[…] I left, humming all day long, remembering that once upon a time my ideal weight had been 84, and now I'd even beaten that. I decided 80 was a better number, a nice even number to be.1998, Marya Hornbacher, chapter 8, in Wasted, paperback edition, HarperPerennial, published 1999, →ISBN, page 253

   Synonyms:

   round

6. On equal monetary terms; neither owing nor being owed.

   Synonyms:

   quits

7. (colloquial) On equal terms of a moral sort; quits.
   • You biffed me back at the barn, and I biffed you here—so now we're even.
8. Parallel; on a level; reaching the same limit.
   • And shall lay thee even with the ground.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke xix:44
9. (obsolete) Without an irregularity, flaw, or blemish; pure.
   • I know my life so even.1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio)...
10. (obsolete) Associate; fellow; of the same condition.
    • His even servant.c. 1382–1395, John Wycliffe, Bible - Matthew 18.29

Verb

even (third-person singular simple present evens, present participle evening, simple past and past participle evened)

1. (transitive) To make flat and level.
   • We need to even this playing field; the west goal is too low.
   • This temple Xerxes evened with the soil.1614, Walter Ralegh [i.e., Walter Raleigh], The Historie of the World […], London: […] William Stansby for Walter Burre, […], →OCLC, (please specify |book=1 to 5)

   Synonyms:

   flatten, level

2. (obsolete, transitive) To equal or equate; to make 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”, in The Historie of the Holy Warre, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] Thomas Buck, one...
   • “But aside from that,” I continued, “what have I done that you should even me to dogs by such a supposition? I never yet failed a friend, and it’s not likely I’ll begin with you. There are things between us that I can never forget, even if you can.”1886 May 1 – July 31, Robert Louis Stevenson, Kidnapped, being Memoirs of the Adventures of David Balfour in the Year 1751: […], London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 1886, →OCLC
3. (intransitive, obsolete) To be equal.
   • Thrice nine evens twenty seven.
   • A redoubled numbering never eveneth with the first.1609, Richard Carew, The Survey of Cornwall, London: […] S[imon] S[tafford] for Iohn Iaggard, […], →OCLC
4. (obsolete, transitive) To place in an equal state, as to obligation, or in a state in which nothing is due on either side; to balance, as accounts; to make quits.
   • We need to even the score.
   • Madam, the care I have had to even your
     content I wish might be found in the calendar of my
     past endeavours, for then we wound our modesty, and
     make foul the clearness of our deservings, when of
     ourselves we publish them.c. 1604–05, William Shakespeare, All's Well that Ends Well, act 1, scene 3

   Synonyms:

   settle

5. (obsolete, transitive) To set right; to complete.
6. (obsolete, transitive) To act up to; to keep pace with.
   • Prithee away,
     There's more to be considered: but we'll even
     All that good time will give us.c. 1611, William Shakespeare, Cymbeline, act 3, scene 4

Adverb

even (not comparable)

1. (archaic) Exactly; just; fully.
   • I fulfilled my instructions even as I had promised.
   • You are leaving tonight? — Even so.

   Synonyms:

   definitely

2. In reality (used to imply an extreme example in the case mentioned).
   • Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn sometimes.
   • Did you even make it through the front door?

   Synonyms:

   so much as

3. Used to emphasise a comparative.
   • I was strong before, but now I am even stronger.

   Synonyms:

   still

4. Used to indicate a further degree of comparison.
   • Bob is taller than Alice, but Cameron is even taller than Bob.
5. Rather; that is (used to signal a correction of a previous utterance).
   • My favorite actor is Jack Nicklaus. Jack Nicholson, even.

   Synonyms:

   in other words

Noun (1)

even (plural evens)

1. (diminutive) An even number.
   • So let's see. There are two evens here and three odds.

Noun (2)

even (plural evens)

1. (archaic, poetic) Evening.
   • We'll meet at even, when the sun is set.
   • Whẽ the evẽ was come they bꝛought vnto hĩ many that were poſſeſſed with devyllꝭ / […]1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Matthew viij:[16], folio x, recto

   Synonyms:

   evening, eventide

Proper noun capitalized: Even

IPA/əˈvɛn/

Even

1. A Tungusic language spoken by the Evens in Siberia and the Russian Far East.

   Synonyms:

   Lamut

Noun (3) capitalized: Even

IPA/əˈvɛn/

Even (plural Evens)

1. A member of an indigenous people living in Siberia and the Russian Far East.