evenly

/ˈiːvnli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈiːvnli/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈēvənlē, -li/ (ame, mw)

evenly — adverb

1. in a calm, steady voice that hides the speaker's true feelings of anger, upset,

1.副詞B2
釋義

in a calm, steady voice that hides the speaker's true feelings of anger, upset, or dissatisfaction

例句

'I'm not surprised,' Rin said evenly, though her hands were shaking under the table.

said evenly — flat tone masking true emotion

The librarian replied evenly when the student accused her of losing the book.

同義詞
  • calmly

    broader; covers any calm behaviour, not just speech

  • flatly

    stronger implication of total lack of emotion, often negative

  • steadily

    focuses on voice control rather than hidden emotion

反義詞
  • hysterically

    opposite — losing emotional control while speaking

  • angrily

    opposite — showing anger openly instead of hiding it

文法句型

verb + evenly

用法筆記

Only used with verbs of speaking (said, replied, stated, answered). The adverb itself carries the meaning of emotional restraint — the surrounding context usually reveals the speaker's hidden feeling.

常見錯誤

❌The car ran evenly on the highway.
✅The car ran smoothly on the highway.
💡'evenly' in this sense only applies to how a person speaks, not to how a machine operates.

2. in or into parts or amounts that are the same for each person, place, or group

2.副詞B1
釋義

in or into parts or amounts that are the same for each person, place, or group

例句

The seven grandchildren shared the money evenly, so each received exactly the same amount.

shared + evenly — equal distribution

Lucía spread the jam evenly across the toast without leaving any bare spots.

同義詞
  • equally

    nearly identical; 'equally' can also describe quality or treatment, while 'evenly' focuses on quantity

  • fairly

    adds a moral or justice nuance; 'evenly' is neutral about fairness

  • proportionally

    more technical; suggests division according to a ratio rather than identical amounts

反義詞

文法句型

verb (distribute/share/divide/split) + evenly + among/between

用法筆記

Commonly paired with share, split, divide, distribute, and spread. The preposition among is used with three or more recipients; between is acceptable with two.

常見錯誤

❌Please share the cake evenly to everyone.
✅Please share the cake evenly among everyone.
💡use 'among' (or 'between'), not 'to', after 'evenly' with sharing.

3. in a regular, smooth, and consistent way, without changes, gaps, bumps, or patch

3.副詞B2
釋義

in a regular, smooth, and consistent way, without changes, gaps, bumps, or patches

例句

The paint went on evenly, leaving no streaks or pale patches on the wall.

went on evenly — smooth, streak-free application

Asher warmed the sauce slowly so it would heat evenly without burning at the bottom.

同義詞
  • smoothly

    focuses on lack of bumps or disruptions; 'evenly' adds the idea of consistency across a surface or process

  • uniformly

    more formal; emphasises sameness throughout the whole area or process

  • regularly

    focuses on fixed intervals in space or time

反義詞
  • unevenly

    direct opposite — marked by bumps, gaps, or changes

  • irregularly

    lacks a fixed pattern or consistent intervals

文法句型

verb + evenly + (prepositional phrase)

用法筆記

Overlaps with sense 2 when applied to physical distribution (e.g. spreading butter). The difference: sense 2 emphasises equal amounts, while sense 3 emphasises smooth, gap-free coverage or regular spacing.

常見錯誤

❌The teacher spaced the students evenly in the classroom' (if meaning equal distance between desks).
✅The teacher spaced the desks evenly across the room.
💡'spaced evenly' refers to physical distance, not the number of students.