even out

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Thân thiện

The gardener uses a rake to even out the soil in the flower bed.

Definition

Verb (transitive):
- To make something level, flat, or uniform; to remove differences or irregularities from a surface or distribution.
- To adjust or correct something to achieve a state of balance or equality.
Verb (intransitive):
- To become level, flat, or uniform over time; to gradually reach a state of balance or stability.

Usage

Transitive: Use "even out" when describing the action of making an uneven thing smooth or balancing an unequal distribution. It often takes a direct object (e.g., even out , even out ).
Intransitive: Use "even out" when describing a process where something becomes balanced by itself over time. It does not take a direct object (e.g., The road evens out ahead).

Examples

Transitive usage:
- Use a trowel to even out the concrete before it dries.
- The new tax policy aims to even out income disparities.
- She used a brush to even out the application of paint.
Intransitive usage:
- After a steep climb, the hiking trail evens out near the summit.
- Market fluctuations usually even out over the long term.
- His breathing began to even out as he relaxed.

Advanced Usage

In Statistics/Data: To describe making data sets comparable or removing skew.
- The researcher applied a logarithmic transformation to even out the variance in the data.
In Finance/Investing: To describe the reduction of volatility or risk over time.
- Dollar-cost averaging helps even out the purchase price of shares.

Variants and Related Words

Even (verb/adj): Can be used similarly (e.g., , ), but "even out" often emphasizes the of achieving the even state.
Level out (phrasal verb): A very close synonym, especially for surfaces and trends.
Smooth out (phrasal verb): Often used for surfaces and also for resolving difficulties.
Balance out (phrasal verb): More focused on equalizing opposing forces, amounts, or effects.

Synonyms

Related Phrasal Verbs

Even up: Very similar to the transitive use of "even out," often used for scores, amounts, or opportunities.
- A last-minute goal evened up the match.
Level off: Similar to the intransitive use, meaning to stop rising or falling and become steady.
- Inflation is expected to level off next quarter.

Related Idioms

To even the playing field: To create a situation where everyone has the same opportunities. (This idiom uses "even" as a verb, not the phrasal verb "even out," but the concept is related).
- The scholarship program helps even the playing field for students from low-income families.

The gardener uses a rake to even out the soil in the flower bed.

Verb

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