ever
/'evə/
Definition
Adverb:
1. At any time: Used in questions and negative statements to mean "at any point in time."
2. Always, at all times: Used to indicate something that is continuously or invariably true.
3. (Intensifier) Very, extremely: Used informally before adjectives like so or such for emphasis.
4. In any way; at all: Used for emphasis in comparative structures or set phrases.
Usage Examples
- Adverb (At any time):
- Have you ever visited Paris?
- Nothing ever happens in this town.
- If you are ever in London, call me.
- Adverb (Always):
- He is ever hopeful that things will improve.
- They lived happily ever after.
- Adverb (Intensifier):
- Thank you ever so much for your help.
- She is ever such a nice person.
- Adverb (In any way):
- It's raining harder than ever.
- As if that weren't bad enough, he was late ever more.
Advanced Usage
- "Did you ever?": An exclamatory phrase expressing surprise or disbelief.
- He just quit his job without another one lined up. Well, did you ever?
- "Ever and anon": An archaic or literary phrase meaning "now and then; occasionally."
- "For ever and ever": An emphatic form of "forever," meaning for all eternity.
- They promised to love each other for ever and ever.
Variants and Related Words
- Ever- (prefix): Used to form adjectives meaning "always" or "continuously."
- Ever-present: Always there.
- Ever-changing: Constantly changing.
- Evergreen: (Literally: always green) A plant that retains leaves year-round; (figuratively) perpetually popular.
- Forever (adverb): For all time; continually.
- I will love you forever.
- He is forever complaining about something.
Synonyms
- At any time: At all, once.
- Always: Constantly, continually, perpetually, invariably.
- (Intensifier): Extremely, very, really.
Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)
- Ever since: Continuously from a specified past time until now.
- She's been afraid of dogs ever since she was bitten.
- Hardly ever / Scarcely ever: Very rarely.
- I hardly ever eat fast food.
Related Idioms
- Yours ever / Ever yours: A friendly, informal closing for a letter.
- Ever more: Increasingly; to a greater and greater degree.
- The situation grew ever more complicated.
- As ever: As usual; in the way that is typical.
- He was late, as ever.
Adverb
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(intensifier for adjectives) very
-
she was ever so friendly
-
-
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
-
I will always be there to help you
-
always arrives on time
-
there is always some pollution in the air
-
ever hoping to strike it rich
-
ever busy
-
-
at any time
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did you ever smoke?
-
the best con man of all time
-
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