evenly
EE-vuhn-lee
Evenly (adv) means In equal amounts or to an equal degree. Example: “Split the money evenly between the three of you.”
adv
1
In equal amounts or to an equal degree.
"Split the money evenly between the three of you."
"Spread the sauce evenly over the base."
"The teacher divided the sweets evenly among the whole class."
2
Smoothly, without bumps or variation.
"Sand the surface evenly before painting."
"The engine ran evenly once the mechanic had adjusted it."
"She breathed evenly as she walked up the long, gentle slope."
How to use evenly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEqually, or smoothly and without variation.
Common pairings
evenly distributed
evenly matched
evenly spaced
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like evenly.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- more evenly
- Superlative
- most evenly
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Split the money _____ between the three of you.
Etymology
From Old English efenlīċe, built from even + -ly.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
unevenly
Related words
Rhymes for evenly
See all rhymes for evenly →Frequently asked questions
What does “evenly” mean?
The word “evenly” means in equal amounts or to an equal degree. In plain terms, equally, or smoothly and without variation.
How do you pronounce “evenly”?
“Evenly” is pronounced EE-vuhn-lee (/ˈiːvənli/ in IPA).
How do you use “evenly” in a sentence?
Here is “evenly” used in a sentence: “Split the money evenly between the three of you.”
What part of speech is “evenly”?
“Evenly” is an adverb.
Where does the word “evenly” come from?
The word “evenly” comes from Old English. From Old English efenlīċe, built from even + -ly.
Is “evenly” a common word?
“Evenly” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “evenly” have?
“Evenly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in equal amounts or to an equal degree.
What is the difference between evenly and equally?
Evenly often emphasises a smooth, balanced distribution or texture, as in spreading paint evenly across a surface, while equally emphasises identical amounts or shares, as in dividing money equally. In many contexts they overlap, but evenly is preferred when describing consistency or lack of variation, and equally when describing exact sameness in quantity.
What is the difference between evenly and unevenly?
Evenly describes something distributed or applied in equal amounts or smoothly without variation, while unevenly describes the opposite: uneven distribution, inconsistency, or bumpiness. A team can be evenly matched, meaning the sides are balanced, or unevenly matched, meaning one side is clearly stronger.
What are common collocations with evenly?
Evenly is frequently paired with verbs like spread, distribute, divide, split, and match, and with adjectives such as evenly balanced or evenly spaced. These phrases describe things arranged in equal amounts or smoothly across a space, such as evenly spaced shelves or an evenly matched contest.
