English Explanatory Dictionary

ever

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adv
  1. Always, frequently, forever.
  2. Continuously, constantly, all the time (for the complete duration).
  3. At any time.
  4. As intensifier following an interrogative word.
  5. Indicates experiential aspect, once; has or have (done something) before.
adj
  1. Occurring at any time, occurring even but once during a timespan.
det
  1. Shortening of every

Pronunciation

/ˈɛvə/ /ˈɛvɚ/ en-us-ever.ogg En-uk-ever.ogg

Word forms

ever euer e'er ev'r eva evah eva' evuh iver ivver

Etymology

From Middle English ever, from Old English ǣfre, originally a phrase whose first element undoubtedly consists of Old English ā (“ever, always”) + in (“in”) + an element possibly from feorh (“life, existence”) (dative fēore). Compare Old English ā tō fēore (“ever in life”), Old English feorhlīf (“life”). Sense 5 of the adverb was likely formed by association with never, which also carries the meaning of did not in colloquial Singaporean and Malaysian English. Also, compare Chinese 有 … 過 /有 … 过 (yǒu ... guò / jau⁵ ... gwo³, “has […] before”).

Synonyms

the dickens forever

Antonyms

never

Derived words

as ever as ever trod shoe leather as ever trod shoe-leather e'er ever after ever and again ever and anon ever and ever everbearer everbearing everblack everbloomer everblooming ever-burning ever-busy everchanging -changing everclear evercookie ever-damned everduring everfleeing everflowing evergreen ever-growing evergrowing everlast everlasting everliving everloving ever-loving evermore ever-more ever-moving everness Evernet ever-present evershifting ever-shifting ever since ever smoker ever-smoker ever so ever-varying everwatchful ever-watchful everwhat everwhen everwhere everwhich everwho every everywhere first-ever for ever …and ever forever and ever for ever more greatest story ever told happily ever after
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