unevenly

/ʌnˈiːvnli/ (bre, ipa) · /ʌnˈiːvnli/ (ame, ipa) · /¦ən+/ (ame, mw)

unevenly — adverb

1. in a manner where things are not spread at the same level or amount, or where a

1.副詞B2
釋義

in a manner where things are not spread at the same level or amount, or where a surface does not stay flat and regular

例句

The table legs were cut unevenly, making the surface wobble when Minh leaned on it.

unevenly + past participle (cut unevenly)

Donation money was distributed unevenly among the three schools; one received far more than the others.

distributed unevenly — allocation collocation

同義詞
  • irregularly

    focuses on a lack of pattern or predictable shape rather than on inequality of amount

  • unequally

    specifically emphasises differences in quantity or degree, not physical flatness

反義詞
  • evenly

    the direct opposite; means in an equal, flat, or regular manner

文法句型

verb + unevenly

unevenly + past participle (e.g. unevenly distributed)

用法筆記

Frequently pairs with past participles of verbs describing distribution, cutting, heating, or spreading (distributed unevenly, cut unevenly, heated unevenly). The adverb typically appears right before the past participle or at the end of the clause.

常見錯誤

❌The food was unevenly.
✅The food was unevenly distributed.
💡unevenly is an adverb and must modify a verb or adjective; it cannot stand alone as a complement.
❌The ground felt unevenly.
✅The ground felt uneven.
💡to describe a surface, use the adjective uneven, not the adverb unevenly.

2. with changes in quality over time or from one part to another, so that some part

2.副詞B2
釋義

with changes in quality over time or from one part to another, so that some parts or moments are much better than others

例句

The band played unevenly, delivering a stunning opening but losing energy by the middle.

played unevenly — performance quality pattern

Gabriel thought the film was unevenly paced, mixing slow scenes with frantic action.

unevenly paced — creative/critical judgment

同義詞
  • inconsistently

    more general, can apply to any fluctuating behaviour or quality

  • patchily

    informal; suggests good parts mixed with weak parts

反義詞
  • consistently

    the opposite of varying in quality; means maintaining the same standard

  • steadily

    suggests a smooth, reliable level of performance or quality

文法句型

verb + unevenly

unevenly + past participle

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 focuses on physical or measurable inequality (quantity, surface, distribution); sense 2 concerns the quality or standard of something changing unpredictably. Common with verbs of performance, evaluation, or progression (play, perform, write, pace, progress).

常見錯誤

❌The team played unevenly all season — they won every single game.
✅The team played unevenly all season
💡they won some games easily but lost others badly.' — unevenly playing means the quality of performance changed from game to game, not that the team was consistently good.