Definition of EVER

ever

Meanings

Adverb

  • at any time
    • "did you ever smoke?"
  • at all times; all the time and on every occasion
    • "ever hoping to strike it rich"
    • "ever busy"
  • (intensifier for adjectives) very
    • "she was ever so friendly"

Adv

  • Always, frequently, forever.
  • Continuously, constantly, all the time (for the complete duration).
  • At any time.
  • As intensifier following an interrogative word.
  • Indicates experiential aspect, once; has or have (done something) before.

Adj

  • Occurring at any time, occurring even but once during a timespan.

Det

  • Shortening of every

Origin / Etymology

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”).

Synonyms

always, e'er, ever so, forever, of all time, the dickens

Antonyms

never

Scrabble Score: 7

ever is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
ever is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
ever is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 8

ever is a valid Words With Friends word