Ever Meaning
/ˈɛvə/Definition, CEFR level A1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
advAlways, frequently, forever.
advContinuously, constantly, all the time (for the complete duration).
Sentence Examples
That's the stupidest thing I've ever said.
It is said that "Hamlet" is the most interesting play ever written.
The opposition to her plan made her more determined than ever.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Have you ____ seen such a beautiful rainbow before?
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It was the most beautiful sunset she had ____ seen in her entire life.
Word Origin & History
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”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"[…] the Lord Treasurer, who ever secretly feigned himself to be a Moderator and Mollifier of the Catholicks Afflictions […]"
— 1592, George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax, An Advertisement […] concerning Seminary Priests:
"Let us ever remember that our conception, our comprehension, our feeling of God must be ever imperfect, yet should be ever advancing. We must not make God: we must find Him and feel Him more and more."
— 1860, Florence Nightingale, Suggestions for Thought to the searchers after truth among the artizans of England., page 302:
"“A tight little craft,” was Austin’s invariable comment on the matron;[…]. ¶ Near her wandered her husband, orientally bland, invariably affable, and from time to time squinting sideways, as usual, in the ever-renewed expectation that he might catch a glimpse of his stiff, retroussé moustache."
— 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter IX, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:
"The library staffs of the Karaton Surakarta's Sasana Pustaka, the Mangku- nagaran's Reksa Pustaka, and the Museum Radyapustaka were ever helpful and generous with their time."
— 1993, Nancy K. Florida, Javanese Literature in Surakarta Manuscripts: Introduction and manuscripts of the Karaton Surakarta, SEAP Publications, →ISBN, page 9:
"As with the rest of macroeconomics, the issues have to be rethought in a way that makes the ever-imperfect knowledge of market participants and policymakers an integral part of the analysis."
— 2007, Roman Frydman, Michael D. Goldberg, Imperfect Knowledge Economics: Exchange Rates and Risk, Princeton University Press, →ISBN:
Explore More A1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Have you ____ seen such a beautiful rainbow before?
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It was the most beautiful sunset she had ____ seen in her entire life.