even
adverb /ˈiːvn/
/ˈiːvn/
Idioms - used to emphasize something unexpected or surprising
- She didn't even call to say she wasn't coming.
- He never even opened the letter (= so he certainly didn't read it).
- It wouldn't have been possible 30 years ago, maybe even 20.
- It was cold there even in summer (= so it must have been very cold in winter).
- Even a child can understand it (= so adults certainly can).
- used when you are comparing things, to make the comparison stronger
- You know even less about it than I do.
- She's even more intelligent than her sister.
- The Second World War made things even worse.
- We face an even greater challenge today.
- used to introduce a more exact description of somebody/something
- It's an unattractive building, ugly even.
Which Word? although / even though / thoughalthough / even though / though- You can use these words to show contrast between two clauses or two sentences. Though is used more in spoken than in written English. You can use although, even though and though at the beginning of a sentence or clause that has a verb. Notice where the comma goes:
- Although/Even though/Though everyone played well, we lost the game.
- We lost the game although/even though/though everyone played well.
- You cannot use even on its own at the beginning of a sentence or clause instead of although, even though or though:
- Even everyone played well, we lost the game.
Word OriginOld English efen (adjective), efne (adverb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch even, effen and German eben.
Idioms
even as
- (formal) just at the same time as somebody does something or as something else happens
- Even as he shouted the warning the car skidded.
even if
- despite the possibility that; no matter whether
- I'll get there, even if I have to walk.
- despite the fact that; even though
- He is a great leader, even if he has many enemies.
even now/then
- despite what has/had happened
- I've shown him the photographs but even now he won't believe me.
- Even then she would not admit her mistake.
- (formal) at this or that exact moment
- The troops are even now preparing to march into the city.
even so
- despite that
- There are a lot of spelling mistakes; even so, it's quite a good essay.
even though/if
- despite the fact that
- I like her, even though she can be annoying at times.
Which Word? although / even though / thoughalthough / even though / though- You can use these words to show contrast between two clauses or two sentences. Though is used more in spoken than in written English. You can use although, even though and though at the beginning of a sentence or clause that has a verb. Notice where the comma goes:
- Although/Even though/Though everyone played well, we lost the game.
- We lost the game although/even though/though everyone played well.
- You cannot use even on its own at the beginning of a sentence or clause instead of although, even though or though:
- Even everyone played well, we lost the game.