What does “even” mean?
- 1
adverbused to show that something is surprising or more than expected
Even my grandmother uses social media now.
- 2
adverbused to make a comparison stronger
Today is even hotter than yesterday.
- 3
adjectiveflat and smooth, or equal in amount or level
Make sure the shelf is even before you screw it in.
Even at a glance
- Part of speech
- adverb & adjective
- CEFR level
- A2 (elementary)
- Pronunciation
- /ˈivən/ · EE-vun
How to use “even” correctly
“Even though” means “although” and is followed by a fact: “Even though it rained, we went out.” “Even if” is for a possible situation.
Common phrases with “even”
- even if
- even though
- even more
- even number
Synonyms, opposites and related words
Antonyms (opposite meaning)
- uneven
- odd
Word family
- evenly
- uneven
Idioms with “even”
- Break even: To earn exactly as much as you spend, making no profit and no loss.
“even” is on these word lists
Learn these words next
- actually adverbA2used to say what is really true, often when it is surprising
- else adverbA2in addition to or different from the person, thing or place already mentioned
- especially adverbA2more than usual or more than others; in particular
- exactly adverbA2completely correct, with no difference at all
- instead adverbA2in place of someone or something else
- quite adverbA2fairly, more than a little but not very
- also adverbA1in addition; as well
- how adverbA1used to ask about the way something is done or happens