Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - even

I. [c red]DISCOURSE USES Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. You use even to suggest that what comes just after or just before it in the sentence is rather surprising. He kept calling me for years, even after he got married... Even dark-skinned women should use sunscreens... I cannot come to a decision about it now or even give any indication of my own views... He didn’t even hear what I said. ADV: ADV with cl/group, ADV before v 2. You use even with comparative adjectives and adverbs to emphasize a quality that someone or something has. It was on television that he made an even stronger impact as an interviewer... Stan was speaking even more slowly than usual. ADV: ADV compar c darkgreen]emphasis 3. You use even if or even though to indicate that a particular fact does not make the rest of your statement untrue. Cynthia is not ashamed of what she does, even if she ends up doing something wrong... Even though I’m supposed to be working by myself, there are other people who I can interact with. PHRASE 4. If one thing happens even as something else happens, they both happen at exactly the same time. (LITERARY) Even as she said this, she knew it was not quite true... PHRASE 5. You use even so to introduce a surprising fact which relates to what you have just said. (SPOKEN) The bus was only half full. Even so, a young man asked Nina if the seat next to her was taken... = nevertheless PHRASE: PHR with cl 6. You use even then to say that something is the case in spite of what has just been stated or whatever the circumstances may be. Peace could come only gradually, in carefully measured steps. Even then, it sounds almost impossible to achieve... PHRASE: PHR with cl II. [c red]ADJECTIVE USES Please look at category 10 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword. 1. An even measurement or rate stays at about the same level. How important is it to have an even temperature when you’re working?... The brick-built property keeps the temperature at an even level throughout the year. = constant ADJ: usu ADJ n • evenly He looked at Ellen, breathing evenly in her sleep. ADV: usu ADV after v 2. An even surface is smooth and flat. The tables are fitted with a glass top to provide an even surface. = level ADJ 3. If there is an even distribution or division of something, each person, group, or area involved has an equal amount. Divide the dough into 12 even pieces and shape each piece into a ball... = equal ADJ: usu ADJ n • evenly The meat is divided evenly and boiled in a stew... The blood vessels in the skin are not evenly distributed around the face and neck. = equally ADV: ADV after v, ADV -ed 4. An even contest or competition is equally balanced between the two sides who are taking part. ...an even match between eight nations. ADJ: usu ADJ n • evenly They must choose between two evenly matched candidates for governor. ADV: ADV -ed 5. If your voice is even, you are speaking in a very controlled way which makes it difficult for people to tell what your feelings are. (LITERARY) = steady, calm ADJ 6. An even number can be divided exactly by the number two. ? odd ADJ: usu ADJ n 7. If there is an even chance that something will happen, it is no more likely that it will happen than it will not happen. They have a more than even chance of winning the next election... = fifty-fifty ADJ: ADJ n see also evens 8. When a company or a person running a business breaks even, they make neither a profit nor a loss. (BUSINESS) The airline hopes to break even next year and return to profit the following year... PHRASE: V inflects 9. If you say that you are going to get even with someone, you mean that you are going to cause them the same amount of harm or annoyance as they have caused you. (INFORMAL) I’m going to get even with you for this... Don’t get angry, get even. PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR with n 10. to be on an even keel: see keel