equal

UK: /ˈiːkwəl/ US: /ˈikwəl/ ,(ē′kwəl)

Inflections of 'equal' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

When both "l" and "ll" forms exist, spellings with a double "l" are correct, but rare, in US English, while those with a single "l" are not correct in UK English.

equals

v 3rd person singular

equalling

v pres p (Mainly UK)

equaling

v pres p (US)

equalled

v past (Mainly UK)

equaled

v past (US)

equalled

v past p (Mainly UK)

equaled

v past p (US)

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

e•qual /ˈikwəl/   adj., n., v., e•qualed, e•qual•ing or (esp. Brit.) e•qualled, e•qual•ling. 
adj. 

1. the same or alike in quantity, degree, value, etc.:
   The two men were of equal height. Two plus two is equal to four.
2. evenly balanced:
   an equal contest.
3. having adequate powers, ability, or means;
   suited:
   [be + ~ + to] I'm sure she will be equal to the task.

n. [countable]

4. a person or thing that is equal:
   We always considered each other equals.

v. [~ + object]

5. to be or become equal to:
   Two plus two equals four.
6. to make or do something equal to:
   The younger daughter tried hard to equal her older sister's achievements.

See -equa-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

e•qual  (ē′kwəl), adj., n., v., e•qualed, e•qual•ing or (esp. Brit.) e•qualled, e•qual•ling. 
adj. 

1. as great as;
   the same as (often fol. by to or with):
   The velocity of sound is not equal to that of light.
2. like or alike in quantity, degree, value, etc.;
   of the same rank, ability, merit, etc.:
   two students of equal brilliance.
3. evenly proportioned or balanced:
   an equal contest.
4. uniform in operation or effect:
   equal laws.
5. adequate or sufficient in quantity or degree:
   The supply is equal to the demand.
6. having adequate powers, ability, or means:
   He was equal to the task.
7. level, as a plain.
8. tranquil or undisturbed:
   to confront death with an equal mind.
9. impartial or equitable.

n. 

10. a person or thing that is equal.

v.t. 

11. to be or become equal to;
    meet or match:
    So far the rate of production doesn't equal the demand. If A equals B and B equals C, then A equals C.
12. to make or do something equal to:
    No matter how he tries, he can't equal his brother's achievements.
13. [Archaic.] to make equal;
    equalize.
14. [Obs.] to recompense fully.

• Latin aequālis equal, like, equivalent. to aequ(us) even, plain, just + -ālis -al¹
• Middle English (adjective, adjectival) 1350–1400

Synonyms

• 2. proportionate, commensurate, coordinate, correspondent.
  Equal, equivalent, tantamount imply a correspondence between two or more things.
  Equal indicates a correspondence in all respects or in a particular respect:
  A dime is equal to 10 cents
  (that is, in purchasing power).
  Equivalent indicates a correspondence in one or more respects, but not in all:
  An egg is said to be the equivalent of a pound of meat in nutritive value.
  Tantamount, a word of limited application, is used of immaterial things that are equivalent:
  The prisoner's refusal to answer was tantamount to an admission of guilt.
• 4. even, uniform, regular, unvarying, invariant.
• 6. suited, fitted.
• 10. peer, compeer, match, mate, fellow.

Antonyms

• 2. different.
• 6. inadequate.

Usage

1. –9. See unique. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

equal / ˈiːkwəl/ adjective

1. often followed by to or with: identical in size, quantity, degree, intensity, etc; the same (as)
2. having identical privileges, rights, status, etc
3. having uniform effect or application: equal opportunities
4. evenly balanced or proportioned
5. (usually followed by to) having the necessary or adequate strength, ability, means, etc (for)

noun

1. a person or thing equal to another, esp in merit, ability, etc

verb (equals, equalling, equalled) (equals, equaling, equaled)

1. (transitive) to be equal to; correspond to; match
2. (intransitive) usually followed by out: to become equal or level
3. (transitive) to make, perform, or do something equal to

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin aequālis, from aequus level, of obscure origin

ˈequally adverb