uneven

/ʌnˈiːvn/ (bre, ipa) · /ʌnˈiːvn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌən-ˈē-vən/ (ame, mw)

uneven — adjective

  • unevenpositive
  • more unevencomparative
  • most unevensuperlative

1. not having a smooth, flat, or level surface; or not equal or balanced in amount,

1.形容詞B1
釋義

not having a smooth, flat, or level surface; or not equal or balanced in amount, distribution, or strength between two or more sides or parts

例句

The path to the temple was uneven, so Nia walked slowly to avoid tripping.

uneven + surface noun describing physical terrain

Hugo sanded the uneven edges of the wooden shelf until they felt smooth.

同義詞
  • irregular

    focuses on shape, pattern, or timing rather than surface flatness

  • bumpy

    informal and specifically about small raised areas on a surface

  • lopsided

    describes asymmetry where one side is heavier, larger, or stronger

  • unequal

    broader term for differences in size, amount, or status

反義詞
  • even

    direct opposite — smooth, level, and equal throughout

  • level

    flat and parallel to the ground, with no bumps or dips

  • balanced

    fairly distributed or matched in strength

用法筆記

Can describe physical surfaces (uneven ground, uneven floor), quantities (uneven distribution, uneven shares), or competitive situations (uneven match, uneven contest). Often used after linking verbs like be, seem, look, or directly before a noun.

常見錯誤

❌The ground is not level, so we cannot play football here.
✅The ground is uneven, so we cannot play football here.
💡'not level' is grammatically correct but less natural than 'uneven' for describing irregular ground.
❌The division of the money was not fair.' (when describing unequal amounts).
✅The division of the money was uneven.
💡'uneven' describes the difference in amounts; 'unfair' suggests intentional injustice.

2. not consistently good, with some parts being of a higher quality than others

2.形容詞B2
釋義

not consistently good, with some parts being of a higher quality than others

例句

The hotel's rooms were uneven in quality — some were lovely while others needed repairs.

uneven in quality + contrasting parts

Linh thought the movie was uneven: the acting was excellent but the story lacked tension.

同義詞
  • inconsistent

    more direct and common than 'uneven' for quality variation

  • patchy

    informal, mostly British English — good in some parts, poor in others

  • variable

    neutral term for changing quality often used in formal contexts

  • mixed

    commonly used for reviews, feedback, or opinions

反義詞
  • consistent

    staying the same quality throughout

  • uniform

    of the same standard in every part

用法筆記

Often used as a polite or softened way to say that something is not very good overall. Common with nouns like quality, performance, work, reviews, results, and standards. The sentence usually goes on to contrast the good parts with the weaker parts.

常見錯誤

❌This book is uneven.' (when the book is boring throughout).
✅The book is uneven, with some exciting chapters and some dull ones.
💡'uneven' means the quality varies; for something consistently bad, use 'weak' or 'disappointing.'