English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

eventuality

noun

A possible future event or outcome, especially one to be prepared for.

eventually

adv

In the end, especially after delay or difficulty.

ever

adv

At any time.

Everest

name

Ellipsis of Mount Everest. A mountain on the border of Tibet, China and Nepal.

Everett

name

A masculine given name and English surname meaning "brave as a wild boar."

Everglades

name

A vast subtropical wetland region in southern Florida, USA.

evergreen

adjective

Of a tree, shrub, or plant, keeping its leaves or needles all year round instead of losing them in autumn.

everlasting

adjective

Lasting forever or for an extremely long time; without end.

evermore

adverb

Forever; for all time to come.

Evers

name

An English and German surname, an occupational or patronymic name.

evert

verb

To turn something inside out or fold it outward.

Everton

name

A district of Liverpool, England, and the name of its professional football club.

every

determiner

Used before a singular noun to mean each one of a group, with no exceptions.

everybody

pronoun

Every person; all people in a group.

everyday

adjective

Ordinary, normal, or happening as part of daily routine rather than something special.

everyman

noun

An ordinary, average person, especially one used to represent people in general in a story or discussion.

everyone

pronoun

Every person; everybody.

everypony

pronoun

A playful stand-in for "everybody," used in pony-themed fan communities.

everything

pronoun

All the things being talked about or considered as a whole.

everywhere

adverb

In or to every place; in all locations.

evict

verb

To legally force someone to leave a property they rent or occupy.

eviction

noun

The act or legal process of removing a tenant or occupant from a property.

evidence

noun

Facts, objects, or information that support a claim or help prove something is true.

evident

adjective

Clear and obvious; easily seen or understood.

evidentiary

adjective

Relating to or serving as evidence, especially in a legal setting.

evidently

adverb

Clearly or obviously, based on what can be observed.

Evie

name

A feminine given name, commonly used as a diminutive of Eve or Evelyn.

evil

adjective

Deeply immoral and cruel; deliberately intending to cause harm.

evilly

adverb

In a wicked or malicious manner.

Evita

name

A feminine given name, a Spanish diminutive of Eva, famously associated with Eva Peron.

evo

noun

Informal short form of "evening."

evocative

adjective

Bringing a strong memory, feeling, or image to mind.

evoke

verb

To bring a feeling, memory, or image to someone's mind.

evolution

noun

The gradual process by which species of living things change over many generations, driven by natural selection.

evolutionary

adjective

Relating to biological evolution or the theory of evolution.

evolve

verb

Of living things or species, to develop and change gradually over many generations.

evolved

adjective

Having developed gradually, especially through a process of change or improvement.

ew

interjection

Used to express disgust or revulsion.

Ewan

name

A masculine given name of Scottish Gaelic origin, related to Evan and John.

ewe

noun

A female sheep.

Ewell

name

An English surname and place name, and a town in Surrey, England.

Ewing

name

A Scottish surname, and the fictional family at the center of the television series Dallas.

eww

interjection

A stretched-out, more emphatic version of "ew," expressing strong disgust.

ex

noun

A former romantic partner, such as an ex-girlfriend, ex-boyfriend, or ex-spouse.

exact

adjective

Perfectly accurate or precise; matching a standard or fact exactly, with nothing added or missing.

exacting

adjective

Demanding a lot from people; hard to satisfy.

exactly

adverb

Precisely, with no approximation or margin of error.

exaggerate

verb

To make something sound bigger, worse, or more dramatic than it really is.

exaggerated

adjective

Described or shown as bigger, worse, or more extreme than it actually is.

exaggerating

adjective

Prone to overstating things, or serving to make something seem bigger than it is.

exaggeration

noun

A statement or description that overstates the truth, making something seem bigger or more extreme than it is.

exalted

adjective

Held in very high honor or regard; elevated in rank or status.

exam

noun

A shortened, everyday word for "examination" — a test of knowledge or skill.

examination

noun

A formal test of knowledge or ability, often written or oral and done under time pressure.

examine

verb

To look at or study something closely and carefully.

examiner

noun

A person whose job is to test, question, or inspect something or someone.

examining

adjective

Closely observant; carrying out a detailed inspection.

example

noun

A single case that represents or stands in for a whole group of similar things.

exasperated

adjective

Extremely annoyed or frustrated, especially after being pushed to one's limit.

exasperating

adjective

Extremely annoying or frustrating.

Excalibur

noun

The legendary sword belonging to King Arthur, said to have magical powers.

excavate

verb

To dig a hole in something, making it hollow.

excavation

noun

The act of digging out earth to create a hole, trench, or foundation.

excavator

noun

A large machine, usually on tracks, used to dig earth.

exceed

verb

To be greater than, or go beyond, a certain amount or limit.

exceeding

adjective

Very great; extraordinary in degree (an older, more formal usage).

exceedingly

adverb

To an unusually high or extreme degree; extremely.

excel

verb

To be very good at something, or to do noticeably better than others.

excellence

noun

The quality of being extremely good at something; outstanding merit.

Excellency

noun

A formal title used to address certain high officials, such as ambassadors or governors.

excellent

adjective

Extremely good; outstanding in quality.

excellently

adverb

In a way that shows excellence; very well.

excelsior

interjection

A rallying cry meaning "ever upward," used to urge continued progress.

except

preposition

Used to introduce something left out of a general statement.

excepting

preposition

With the exception of; not including.

exception

noun

Someone or something left out of a general rule or statement.

exceptional

adjective

Unusually good; far above average.

exceptionally

adverb

To an unusually high or remarkable degree.

excess

noun

An amount beyond what is normal, necessary, or allowed.

excessive

adjective

Going beyond a reasonable or acceptable amount; too much.

excessively

adverb

To an excessive degree; more than is reasonable.

exchequer

noun

A government department responsible for managing public revenue and finances.

excise

noun

A tax on goods produced and sold within a country, as opposed to a tax on imports.

excitable

adjective

Easily made excited or agitated.

excite

verb

To stir up strong feelings in someone, especially enthusiasm or eagerness.

excited

adj

Full of eager enthusiasm and energy about something.

excitedly

adv

In a way that shows eagerness or enthusiasm.

excitement

noun

A strong feeling of eagerness, thrill, or enthusiasm.

exciting

adj

Producing strong feelings of enthusiasm or anticipation.

exclaim

verb

To cry out suddenly, usually because of a strong feeling like surprise, pain, or delight.

exclaiming

verb

Crying out suddenly with strong emotion; the -ing form of exclaim.

exclamation

noun

A sudden loud cry, often expressing surprise, pain, or another strong emotion.

exclude

verb

To keep someone or something out, or leave it out of consideration.

excluded

adj

Kept out or not allowed to take part.

excluding

prep

Not counting or including; apart from.

exclusion

noun

The act of leaving someone or something out, or the state of being left out.

exclusive

adj

Restricted to certain people; not open to everyone.

exclusively

adv

Only, and not shared with anyone or anything else.

exclusivity

noun

The quality of being limited to a select group, or of being available from only one place.

excommunication

noun

The formal act of expelling someone from membership in a church, especially the Catholic church.

excrement

noun

Solid waste passed from the body; feces.

excruciating

adj

Extremely painful or unbearably intense.

excursion

noun

A short trip taken for pleasure or a specific purpose, often as part of a larger journey.

excuse

verb

To forgive someone, or overlook a minor fault.

excusing

noun

The act of giving a reason to avoid blame, or of forgiving a fault.

exec

noun

An informal short form of "executive" — someone in a senior management role.

execute

verb

To carry out or put into effect.

execution

noun

The act of carrying out a plan, task, or performance, and how skillfully it is done.

executioner

noun

A person whose job is to carry out death sentences.

executive

noun

A senior manager with authority to make important decisions in a company or organization.

executor

noun

A person legally appointed to carry out the instructions in someone's will.

exemplary

adj

So good that it serves as a model for others to follow.

exempt

adj

Not required to do, pay, or follow something that otherwise applies.

exemption

noun

The state of being freed from a duty, rule, or payment that would otherwise apply.

exercise

noun

Physical activity done to improve fitness or health.

exercised

adj

Having been put to use, trained, or practiced.

exercising

verb

Doing physical activity to build fitness, or actively using a right or power.

exert

verb

To apply or make use of something, such as force, influence, or effort.

exertion

noun

The act of applying physical or mental effort.

exes

noun

Former romantic partners; the plural of "ex."

exhale

verb

To breathe out; to push air out of the lungs.

exhaling

verb

Breathing out; the -ing form of exhale.

exhaust

verb

To use up something completely, or to wear someone out.

exhausted

adj

Extremely tired, with no energy left.

exhausting

adjective

Extremely tiring; draining all your energy.

exhaustion

noun

A state of extreme tiredness in which your energy is completely used up.

exhaustive

adjective

Covering every possible detail or angle; extremely thorough.

exhibit

verb

To put something on public display, especially in a gallery, museum, or competition.

exhibition

noun

A public display of art, objects, or products, often in a gallery or museum.

exhibitionist

noun

Someone who deliberately behaves in an attention-seeking or showy way.

exhilarating

adjective

Extremely exciting and thrilling, often in a way that lifts your mood.

exhilaration

noun

A feeling of intense excitement and happiness.

exhumation

noun

The act of digging up a body that has been buried.

exhume

verb

To dig up a body that has been buried.

exile

noun

The state of being forced to live away from your home country, often for political reasons.

exist

verb

To be real; to have actual being.

existence

noun

The fact or state of being real or of occurring.

existential

adjective

Relating to existence, especially the fact or nature of being alive.

existing

adjective

Currently in existence; present now.

exit

noun

A way out of a place, such as a door or a passage.

exiting

noun

The act of leaving or going out.

exits

noun

Plural of exit — more than one way out, or more than one act of leaving.

Exley

noun

A surname of English origin.

Exodus

noun

A mass departure of people, often from a place they consider unsafe or unwelcoming.

exonerate

verb

To officially clear someone of blame or wrongdoing.

exonerated

adjective

Officially cleared of guilt or blame.

exorbitant

adjective

Unreasonably high, especially in price.

exorcise

verb

To drive out an evil spirit from a person or place, usually through ritual or prayer.

exorcism

noun

A ritual intended to drive an evil spirit out of a person or place.

exorcist

noun

A person, often a priest, who performs exorcisms to drive out evil spirits.