ever
♦♦♦ ever /'evər/
Ever is an adverb which you use to add emphasis in negative sentences, commands, questions, and conditional structures.
1 [ADV] ADV before v, ADV adv
Ever means at any time. It is used in questions and negative statements.
I'm not sure I'll ever trust people again...
Neither of us had ever skied...
Have you ever experienced failure?...
I don't know if you ever read any of his books...
≠ never
2 [ADV] in questions, ADV before v
You use ever in expressions such as `did you ever' and `have you ever' to express surprise or shock at something you have just seen, heard, or experienced, especially when you expect people to agree with you.
Have you ever seen anything like it?...
Did you ever hear anyone sound so peculiar?
3 [ADV] ADV after compar than, ADV after adj-superl
You use ever after comparatives and superlatives to emphasize the degree to which something is true or when you are comparing a present situation with the past or the future.
She's got a great voice and is singing better than ever...
Japan is wealthier and more powerful than ever before...
He feels better than he has ever felt before...
This is the most awful evening I can ever remember.
4 [ADV] ADV adj/adv
You use ever to say that something happens more all the time.
They grew ever further apart...
5 [ADV] ADV before v
You can use ever for emphasis after `never'. (INFORMAL)
I can never, ever, forgive myself...
6 [ADV] quest ADV
You use ever in questions beginning with words such as `why', `when', and `who' when you want to emphasize your surprise or shock.
Why ever didn't you tell me?...
Who ever heard of a thing like that?
7 [PHRASE]
If something has been the case ever since a particular time, it has been the case all the time from then until now.
He's been there ever since you left!...
Ever since we moved last year, I worry a lot about whether I can handle this new job...
[ADV] ADV after v, ADV with cl
Ever is also an adverb.
I simply gave in to him, and I've regretted it ever since...
8 [ADV] ADV such/so
You use ever in the expressions ever such and ever so to emphasize that someone or something has a particular quality, especially when you are expressing enthusiasm or gratitude. (BRIT INFORMAL)
When I met Derek he was ever such a good dancer...
I like him ever so much...
I'm ever so grateful...
9
see also forever
10 [PHRASE] V inflects
You use the expression all someone ever does when you want to emphasize that they do the same thing all the time, and this annoys you.
All she ever does is whinge and complain...
11 [PHRASE] PHR with cl
You say as ever in order to indicate that something or someone's behaviour is not unusual because it is like that all the time or very often.
As ever, the meals are primarily fish-based...
12
hardly ever: see hardlyever more
also evermore
[ADV] ADV with v, oft for ADV
Ever more means for all the time in the future.
They will bitterly regret what they have done for ever more...
The editor's decision is final and shall evermore remain so.first ever
also first-ever
[ADJ] usu ADJ n
Something that is the first ever one of its kind has never happened before.
It's the first-ever meeting between leaders of the two countries.
Ever is an adverb which you use to add emphasis in negative sentences, commands, questions, and conditional structures.
1 [ADV] ADV before v, ADV adv
Ever means at any time. It is used in questions and negative statements.
I'm not sure I'll ever trust people again...
Neither of us had ever skied...
Have you ever experienced failure?...
I don't know if you ever read any of his books...
≠ never
2 [ADV] in questions, ADV before v
You use ever in expressions such as `did you ever' and `have you ever' to express surprise or shock at something you have just seen, heard, or experienced, especially when you expect people to agree with you.
Have you ever seen anything like it?...
Did you ever hear anyone sound so peculiar?
3 [ADV] ADV after compar than, ADV after adj-superl
You use ever after comparatives and superlatives to emphasize the degree to which something is true or when you are comparing a present situation with the past or the future.
She's got a great voice and is singing better than ever...
Japan is wealthier and more powerful than ever before...
He feels better than he has ever felt before...
This is the most awful evening I can ever remember.
4 [ADV] ADV adj/adv
You use ever to say that something happens more all the time.
They grew ever further apart...
5 [ADV] ADV before v
You can use ever for emphasis after `never'. (INFORMAL)
I can never, ever, forgive myself...
6 [ADV] quest ADV
You use ever in questions beginning with words such as `why', `when', and `who' when you want to emphasize your surprise or shock.
Why ever didn't you tell me?...
Who ever heard of a thing like that?
7 [PHRASE]
If something has been the case ever since a particular time, it has been the case all the time from then until now.
He's been there ever since you left!...
Ever since we moved last year, I worry a lot about whether I can handle this new job...
[ADV] ADV after v, ADV with cl
Ever is also an adverb.
I simply gave in to him, and I've regretted it ever since...
8 [ADV] ADV such/so
You use ever in the expressions ever such and ever so to emphasize that someone or something has a particular quality, especially when you are expressing enthusiasm or gratitude. (BRIT INFORMAL)
When I met Derek he was ever such a good dancer...
I like him ever so much...
I'm ever so grateful...
9
see also forever
10 [PHRASE] V inflects
You use the expression all someone ever does when you want to emphasize that they do the same thing all the time, and this annoys you.
All she ever does is whinge and complain...
11 [PHRASE] PHR with cl
You say as ever in order to indicate that something or someone's behaviour is not unusual because it is like that all the time or very often.
As ever, the meals are primarily fish-based...
12
hardly ever: see hardlyever more
also evermore
[ADV] ADV with v, oft for ADV
Ever more means for all the time in the future.
They will bitterly regret what they have done for ever more...
The editor's decision is final and shall evermore remain so.first ever
also first-ever
[ADJ] usu ADJ n
Something that is the first ever one of its kind has never happened before.
It's the first-ever meeting between leaders of the two countries.