ever

CEFRA1

/ˈɛvə/

adverb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adverb

    At any time, or always in a particular way.

  2. 02

    adverb

    Extra detail

    At any time.

Examples

  • It is said that "Hamlet" is the most interesting play ever written.

  • That's the stupidest thing I've ever said.

At a glance

Sits at A1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
2

Deep Dive

adverb

Extra meanings

  1. Continuously, constantly, all the time (for the complete duration).

  2. Always, frequently, forever.

  3. As intensifier following an interrogative word.

More examples

In context

  • The opposition to her plan made her more determined than ever.

  • People struggled to cope with the ever-increasing cost of living.

  • We've only ever talked on the phone.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

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Have you blank seen such a beautiful rainbow before?

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Nearby

Origin

adverb

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”).