ev‧er S1 W1 / evə $ evər / 副词

1 a word meaning at any time; used mostly in questions, negatives, comparisons, or sentences with ‘if’ :

Nothing ever seems to upset him.

Have you ever been to Paris?

I don’t think I’ve ever been here before.

If you’re ever in Seattle, come and see me.

2 formal always :

Ever optimistic, I decided to take the exam again.

3 hardly ever not very often :

We hardly ever go out.

4 never ever spoken never :

You never ever offer to help!

5 for ever for all time :

Nothing lasts for ever.

6 as ever as always happens :

As ever, Joe was late.

7 ever since continuously since :

My back has been bad ever since I fell and hurt it two years ago.

8 ever after for all time after something :

I suppose they’ll get married and live happily ever after.

9 hotter/colder/better etc than ever even hotter etc than before :

Last night’s show was better than ever.

10 as friendly/cheerful/miserable etc as ever as friendly etc as someone or something usually is :

George was as miserable as ever.

The food was as bad as ever!

11 ever so cold/wet/nice etc British English spoken very cold, wet etc :

The assistant was ever so helpful.

Thanks ever so much.

12 ever such a British English used to emphasize what someone or something is like :

She’s ever such a nice girl.

13 ever-increasing/ever-present etc increasing, present etc all the time :

the ever-increasing problem of drugs in the inner cities

14 Yours ever/Ever yours informal used at the end of a letter above the signature

15 if ever there was one informal used to say that someone or something is a typical example of something :

He’s a natural comedian if ever there was one.