English Dictionary

Definition of “equal”

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equal (ˈiːkwəlPronunciation for equal) 

Definitions

adjective

  1. to or with identical in size, quantity, degree, intensity, etc; the same (as)
  2. having identical privileges, rights, status, etc  ⇒ all men are equal before the law 
  3. having uniform effect or application  ⇒ equal opportunities 
  4. evenly balanced or proportioned  ⇒ the game was equal between the teams 
  5. (usually foll by to) having the necessary or adequate strength, ability, means, etc (for)  ⇒ to be equal to one's work 
  6. another word for equivalent (sense 3a)

noun

  1. a person or thing equal to another, esp in merit, ability, etc  ⇒ he has no equal when it comes to boxing 

verb

Word forms: equals, equalling, equalled
Word forms: US, equals, equaling, equaled
  1. (tr) to be equal to; correspond to; match  ⇒ my offer equals his 
  2. (intr) out to become equal or level
  3. (tr) to make, perform, or do something equal to  ⇒ to equal the world record 
  4. (tr) archaic to make equal

Alternative Forms

ˈequally adverb

Word Origin

C14: from Latin aequālis,  from aequus level, of obscure origin

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= identical, the same, matched, matching, like, equivalent, uniform, alike, corresponding, tantamount, one and the same, proportionate, commensurate,
= fair, just, impartial, egalitarian, unbiased, even-handed, equable,
= even, balanced, fifty-fifty, evenly matched evenly balanced evenly proportioned
= regular, uniform, symmetrical, unvarying,
= capable of up to, ready for suitable for fit for, strong enough for good enough for sufficient for adequate for competent to
= match, equivalent, fellow, twin, mate, peer, parallel, counterpart, compeer,
= amount to, make, come to, total, balance, agree with level, parallel, tie with equate, correspond to be equal to square with be tantamount to equalize, tally with be level with be even with
= be equal to match, reach, rival, come up to, be level with be even with
= be as good as match, compare with equate with measure up to, be as great as

Translations

  • British English: equal Pronunciation for equal If two things are equal, or if one thing is equal to another, they are the same in size, number, or value....equal numbers of men and women.ˈiːkwəl ADJECTIVE ...equal numbers of men and women.
  • Spanish: igual Pronunciation for igual adj
  • French: égal Pronunciation for égal adj
  • German: gleich Pronunciation for gleich adj
  • Chinese: 相等的Pronunciation for 相等的 adj
  • Arabic: مُساوٍPronunciation for مُساوٍ adj
  • Portuguese: igualPronunciation for igual adj
  • Russian: равныйPronunciation for равный adj равная
  • Croatian: ravnopravanPronunciation for ravnopravan adj ravnopravna
  • Czech: stejnýPronunciation for stejný adj
  • Danish: ligePronunciation for lige adj
  • Dutch: gelijkPronunciation for gelijk adj
  • Finnish: tasavertainenPronunciation for tasavertainen adj
  • Greek: ίσοςPronunciation for ίσος adj ίση
  • Italian: ugualePronunciation for uguale adj
  • Japanese: 等しいPronunciation for 等しい adj
  • Korean: 같은Pronunciation for 같은 adj
  • Norwegian: likPronunciation for lik adj
  • Polish: równyPronunciation for równy adj równa
  • Brazilian Portuguese: igualPronunciation for igual adj
  • European Spanish: igual Pronunciation for igual adj
  • Swedish: jämbördigPronunciation for jämbördig adj jämbördigt
  • Thai: ซึ่งเท่ากันPronunciation for ซึ่งเท่ากัน adj
  • Turkish: eşitPronunciation for eşit adj
  • Vietnamese: bằng nhauPronunciation for bằng nhau adj
  • British English: equal Pronunciation for equal To equal something or someone means to be as good or as great as them.He has equalled his opponent's record of five championship titles in a season.ˈiːkwəl VERB He has equalled his opponent's record of five championship titles in a season.
  • Spanish: ser igual aPronunciation for ser igual a v
  • French: égaler Pronunciation for égaler vt
  • German: gleichen Pronunciation for gleichen v
  • Chinese: 比得上Pronunciation for 比得上 v
  • Arabic: يُساوِيPronunciation for يُساوِي v
  • Portuguese: igualarPronunciation for igualar v
  • Russian: равнятьсяPronunciation for равняться v
  • Croatian: ujednačitiPronunciation for ujednačiti v
  • Czech: rovnat (se)Pronunciation for rovnat (se) v vyrovnat (se)
  • Danish: være lig medPronunciation for være lig med v
  • Dutch: evenarenPronunciation for evenaren v
  • Finnish: olla tasavertainenPronunciation for olla tasavertainen v
  • Greek: εξισώνωPronunciation for εξισώνω v
  • Italian: equivalerePronunciation for equivalere v
  • Japanese: ･･･に等しいPronunciation for ･･･に等しい v
  • Korean: ...과 같다Pronunciation for ...과 같다 v
  • Norwegian: være likPronunciation for være lik v
  • Polish: dorównaćPronunciation for dorównać v dorównywać
  • Brazilian Portuguese: igualarPronunciation for igualar v
  • European Spanish: ser igual aPronunciation for ser igual a v
  • Swedish: vara likPronunciation for vara lik v
  • Thai: ทำให้เท่าเทียมกันPronunciation for ทำให้เท่าเทียมกัน v
  • Turkish: eşitlemekPronunciation for eşitlemek v
  • Vietnamese: bằng vớiPronunciation for bằng với v

Usage examples

  • The square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the other two sides squared.
    Robert Wilson, THE COMPANY OF STRANGERS (2002)
  • Edinburgh Festival With a disorientating amount to choose from, Edinburgh is again bursting with talent and rubbish in equal measure.
    Country Life (2004)
  • Mr Ahern yesterday pointed to the broadly equal percentage gains in disposable income which the Budgets gave to different income groups.
    Irish Times (2002)
  • Her serene countenance veiled football craziness equal to his own.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • There was no outline, no distinction; everything carried an equal light.
    James Runcie, THE COLOUR OF HEAVEN (2003)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'E'

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