evening

UK: /ˈiːvnɪŋ/ US: /ˈivnɪŋ/ ,(ēv′ning)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

eve•ning /ˈivnɪŋ/   n. 

1. the latter part of the day and early part of the night.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

eve•ning  (ēv′ning), n. 

1. the latter part of the day and early part of the night.
2. the period from sunset to bedtime:
   He spent the evenings reading.
3. Dialect Terms [Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S.] the time between noon and sunset, including the afternoon and twilight.
4. any concluding or declining period:
   the evening of life.
5. an evening's reception or entertainment:
   Their evenings at home were attended by the socially prominent.

adj. 

6. of or pertaining to evening:
   The evening sky shone with stars.
7. occurring or seen in the evening:
   the evening mist.

• bef. 1000; Middle English; Old English ǣfnung, equivalent. to ǣfn(ian) draw toward evening + -ung noun, nominal suffix

Synonyms

• 1. eventide, dusk, twilight, gloaming, nightfall.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

evening / ˈiːvnɪŋ/ noun

1. the latter part of the day, esp from late afternoon until nightfall
2. the latter or concluding period: the evening of one's life
3. the early part of the night spent in a specified way: an evening at the theatre
4. an entertainment, meeting, or reception held in the early part of the night
5. the period between noon and sunset
6. (modifier) of, used, or occurring in the evening: the evening papers

Etymology: Old English ǣfnung; related to Old Frisian ēvend, Old High German āband

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

e•ven¹ /ˈivən/   adj. 

1. without bumps on the surface;
   regular;
   smooth:
   an even road.
2. on the same level;
   in the same plane or line;
   parallel:
   even with the ground.
3. free from sudden changes;
   uniform;
   regular;
   constant:
   a steady, even sound.
4. Mathematics (of a number) that can be divided by two without a remainder:
   1,024 is an even number.
5. Mathematics denoted by or having such a number:
   [before a noun] the even pages of a book.
6. Mathematics [before a noun] exactly expressed in whole numbers.
7. equal in measure or quantity:
   even amounts of oil and vinegar.
8. equally balanced or divided;
   equal:
   an even exchange.
9. leaving no balance of debt on either side:
   [be + ~] I lent you my car last week; if you lend me yours this week we'll be even.
10. calm;
    not easily excited or angered;
    placid:
    an even temper.
11. equitable or fair:
    an even bargain.

adv. 

12. evenly;
    in an even manner;
    smoothly:
    The road ran even over the fields.
13. (used with a comparative word to emphasize the comparison, or to mean "still'' or "yet''):
    That arrangement is acceptable, but this one is even more suitable.
14. (used with a superlative adjective, or with the conjunction if, to suggest that some possibility is unlikely to happen): [before an adjective]
    Even the slightest noise disturbs him.
    [~ + if]
    Even if she comes, she may not stay.
15. (used to connect clauses to emphasize that the occurrence of one event is almost at the same time as the other):
    Even as help was coming, the troops surrendered.
16. fully or quite:
    ready to fight even unto death.
17. (used to stress or emphasize the truth of something):
    He is willing, even eager.
18. exactly or precisely:
    It was even so.

v. 

19. to make level, smooth, or equal:
    [~ + object] worked all day to even the pavement.
20. even out, to make or become level, smooth, or equal: [no object]
    The wrinkles will even out when the suit dries.
    [~ + out + object]
    They need two home runs to even out the score.

Idioms

21. Idioms, Business break even, [no obj] to have one's profits equal one's losses;
    to neither gain nor lose:
    The company was managing only to break even.
22. Idioms get even, [no obj] to get revenge;
    retaliate;
    strike back:
    to get even for the insult.

e•ven•ly, adv. 
e•ven•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

e•ven¹  (ē′vən), adj. 

1. level;
   flat;
   without surface irregularities;
   smooth:
   an even road.
2. on the same level;
   in the same plane or line;
   parallel:
   even with the ground.
3. free from variations or fluctuations;
   regular:
   even motion.
4. uniform in action, character, or quality:
   to hold an even course.
5. equal in measure or quantity:
   Add even amounts of oil and vinegar.
6. Mathematics divisible by two, as a number (opposed to odd).
7. Mathematics denoted by such a number:
   the even pages of a book.
8. Mathematics exactly expressible in integers, or in tens, hundreds, etc., without fractional parts:
   an even seven miles.
9. Mathematics (of a function) having a sign that remains the same when the sign of each independent variable is changed at the same time.
10. equally balanced or divided;
    equal:
    Check to see if the scales are even.
11. leaving no balance of debt on either side;
    square:
    We will not be even until I can repay him for saving my life.
12. calm;
    placid;
    not easily excited or angered:
    an even temper.
13. equitable, impartial, or fair:
    an even bargain.

adv. 

14. evenly:
    The road ran even over the fields.
15. still;
    yet (used to emphasize a comparative):
    even more suitable.
16. (used to suggest that something mentioned as a possibility constitutes an extreme case or an unlikely instance):
    Even the slightest noise disturbs him. Even if he attends, he may not participate.
17. just (used to emphasize occurrence, coincidence, or simultaneousness of occurrences):
    Even as he lay dying, they argued over his estate.
18. fully or quite:
    even to death.
19. indeed (used as an intensive for stressing the identity or truth of something):
    He is willing, even eager, to do it.
20. exactly or precisely:
    It was even so.
21. Business break even, to have one's profits equal one's losses;
    neither gain nor lose:
    The company barely broke even last year.
22. Idioms get even, to be revenged;
    retaliate:
    He vowed to get even for the insult.

v.t. 

23. to make even;
    level;
    smooth (sometimes fol. by out):
    to even a board with a plane.
24. to place in an even state as to claim or obligation;
    balance (often fol. by up):
    to even up accounts.

v.i. 

25. to become even:
    The odds evened before the race.
26. even out:
    • to make or become even, smooth, or flat:
      The wrinkles will even out when the suit dries.
    • to become equal, balanced, stable, etc.:
      optimistic that the situation would even out eventually.

• bef. 900; (adjective, adjectival) Middle English; Old English efen; cognate with Gothic ibns, Old High German eban, Old Norse jafn even, equal; (adverb, adverbial) Middle English even(e), Old English efne, derivative of the adjective, adjectival; (verb, verbal) Middle English evenen, Old English efnan to lower, derivative of the adjective, adjectival

e′ven•er, n. 
e′ven•ly, adv. 
e′ven•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. plane. See level. 
• 12. tranquil, temperate, composed, peaceful.
• 13. just.

Antonyms

• 1. irregular.
• 12. mercurial.
• 13. biased.

e•ven²  (ē′vən), n. [Archaic.]

1. evening;
   eve.

• bef. 950; Middle English; Old English ǣfen; akin to German Abend, Old Frisian ēvend. See evening

E•ven  (ā′wən, ev′ən), n., pl. E•vens, (esp. collectively) E•ven for 1.

1. Language Varieties a member of a Siberian people living mainly in the Yakut Autonomous Republic in the Russian Federation.
2. Language Varieties the Tungusic language spoken by the Even. Also called Lamut. 

• Evenki əwən
• Russian ėvén

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

even / ˈiːv^ən/ adjective

1. level and regular; flat
2. (postpositive) followed by with: on the same level or in the same plane (as)
3. without variation or fluctuation; regular; constant
4. not readily moved or excited; placid; calm: an even temper
5. equally balanced between two sides: an even game
6. equal or identical in number, quantity, etc
7. (of a number) divisible by two
8. characterized or indicated by such a number: maps are on the even pages
   Compare odd4
9. relating to or denoting two or either of two alternatives, events, etc, that have an equal probability: an even chance of missing or catching a train
10. having no balance of debt; neither owing nor being owed
11. just and impartial; fair
12. exact in number, amount, or extent: an even pound
13. equal, as in score; level
14. even money ⇒ a bet in which the winnings are the same as the amount staked
15. (as modifier): the even-money favourite
16. get even ⇒ to exact revenge (on); settle accounts (with)

adverb

1. (intensifier; used to suggest that the content of a statement is unexpected or paradoxical): even an idiot can do that
2. (intensifier; used with comparative forms): this is even better
3. notwithstanding; in spite of
4. used to introduce a more precise version of a word, phrase, or statement: her work is gloomy, even morbid
5. used preceding a clause of supposition or hypothesis to emphasize the implication that whether or not the condition in it is fulfilled, the statement in the main clause remains valid: even if she died he wouldn't care
6. all the way; fully: I love thee even unto death
7. even as ⇒ (conjunction) at the very same moment or in the very same way that
8. even so ⇒ in spite of any assertion to the contrary: nevertheless

See also break evenEtymology: Old English efen; related to Old Norse jafn even, equal, Gothic ibns, Old High German eban

ˈevener noun

ˈevenly adverb

ˈevenness noun

even / ˈiːv^ən/ noun

1. an archaic word for eve, evening

Etymology: Old English ǣfen; related to Old Frisian ēvend, Old High German āband