even

e|ven¹ W1S1 [ˈi:vən] adv

[: Old English; Origin: efne, from efen; EVEN²]

1.) used to emphasize something that is unexpected or surprising in what you are saying

▪ Most companies have suffered a drop in their profits, even very large companies.

▪ It was quite difficult to see, even with the light on.

▪ He became quite successful and even appeared on a television show once.

▪ She did not even bother to phone us.

▪ He never even acknowledged my letter.

2.) even bigger/better/brighter etc

used to emphasize that someone or something is bigger, better etc

▪ This will make our job even more difficult.

▪ The news was even worse than we expected.

▪ The new version is even better than the old one.

3.) used to add a stronger, more exact word to what you are saying

▪ Some patients become depressed, even suicidal.

4.) even so

spoken used to introduce something that is true although it is different from something that you have just said.

▪ I know he's only a child, but even so he should have known that what he was doing was wrong.

5.) even if

used to emphasize that something will still be true if another thing happens

▪ She's going to have problems finding a job even if she gets her A levels.

6.) even though

used to emphasize that something is true although something else has happened or is true

▪ Even though he's 24 now, he's still like a little child.

▪ I can still remember, even though it was so long ago.

7.) even now/then

in spite of what has happened

▪ Even now I find it hard to believe that he lied.

▪ They invested in new machinery and equipment, but even then the business was still losing money.

8.) even as

used to emphasize that something happens at the same moment as something else

▪ He realized, even as he spoke, that no one would ever believe him.

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GRAMMAR

even usually goes before the word or phrase that you want to emphasize because it is surprising : Even Grandma was dancing. | Your room is even messier than mine!

!! But even usually goes after an auxiliary verb or modal verb : They have even invited the teacher (NOT They have invited even...). | He can't even spell his own name (NOT He even can't...).

even is not used to introduce another clause. Use even if , even though , or even when : Even if it's raining (NOT Even it's raining), we go for a walk every day. | I love you, even when you're nasty to me.

!! You can use 'still' with these expressions, but do not use 'but' or 'yet' : Even though we're completely different, we're still great friends (NOT but/yet we're great friends).

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even ²

even² adj

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1¦(level)¦

2¦(not changing)¦

3¦(divided equally)¦

4¦(number)¦

5¦(competition)¦

6¦(scores)¦

7 be even

8¦(calm)¦

9 an even chance

10 get even (with somebody)

11 break even

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[: Old English; Origin: efen]

1.) ¦(LEVEL)¦

flat and level, with no parts that are higher than other parts

≠ ↑uneven

▪ The floor must be completely even before we lay the tiles.

▪ You need a flat, even surface to work on.

▪ He had lovely white, even teeth.

2.) ¦(NOT CHANGING)¦

an even rate, speed, or temperature is steady and does not change

▪ The room is kept at an even temperature.

▪ Wood burns at a fairly even rate.

3.) ¦(DIVIDED EQUALLY)¦

divided equally, so that there is the same amount of something in each place, for each person etc

▪ Divide the dough into three even amounts.

▪ an even distribution of wealth

4.) ¦(NUMBER)¦

an even number can be divided exactly by two

≠ ↑odd

▪ 2, 4, 6 and 8 are even numbers.

5.) ¦(COMPETITION)¦

having teams or competitors that are equally good so that everyone has a chance of winning

▪ The first half was very even, and neither side scored.

▪ an even contest

6.) ¦(SCORES)¦

if the score in a game is even, two teams or players have the same number of points

▪ At the end of the first half the scores is even.

7.) be even informal

to no longer owe someone something, especially money

▪ If you give me $5, we'll be even.

8.) ¦(CALM)¦

calm and controlled, and not extreme

▪ He read most of the speech in an even tone.

9.) an even chance

a situation in which it is just as likely that something will happen as not happen

▪ I think we have an even chance of winning.

▪ We knew there was an even chance that the operation would fail.

10.) get even (with sb) informal to do something unpleasant to someone to punish them for something that they did to you

= get revenge (on somebody)

▪ I'll get even with him one day.

11.) break even

to neither make a profit nor lose money

▪ We're hoping that we'll at least break even, and perhaps make a small profit.

→↑even-tempered

>evenness n [U]

even ³

even³ v

even out phr v

if things even out, or if you even them out, the differences between them become smaller

= level out

▪ The differences in their income should even out over time.

even sth<=>out

▪ Use a brush to even out the variations in colour.

even up [even sth<=>up] phr v

to make a situation or competition more equal

▪ We put on a couple of more experienced players to even things up a bit.