ever

Meaning

Adv

1. (archaic, formal, not-comparable) Always, frequently, forever.
2. (not-comparable) Continuously, constantly, all the time (for the complete duration).
3. (not-comparable) At any time.
4. (informal, not-comparable) As intensifier following an interrogative word.
5. (Manglish, Singlish, not-comparable) Indicates experiential aspect, once; has or have (done something) before.

Adj

Occurring at any time, occurring even but once during a timespan.

Det

Shortening of every

Synonyms

always

never

at any time

sometime

forever

constantly

once

someday

at some time

formerly

sometimes

perpetually

continually

at all

occasionally

often

e’er

invariably

at all times

evermore

ever so

at times

aye

some day

before

ago

frequently

earlier

of all time

in the least

have already

eternally

soever

usually

very

well

when

whenever

yesteryear

yet

anywhen

forever and ever

under no circumstances

ex-

even in a slight degree

all

stop no more

good

👍

ably

absolutely

Translations

jamais

je

jemals

mai

toujours

ooit

sempre

altijd

sempre

πάντα

alguma vez

alguna vez

siempre

steeds

semper

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɛvə/

Etymology

Cognate with Old English: ā

Cognate with Old English: ā tō fēore

Cognate with Old English: feorhlīf

In summary

From Middle English ever, from Old English ǣfre, originally a phrase whose first element undoubtedly consists of Old English ā (“ever, always”) + in (“in”) + an element possibly from feorh (“life, existence”) (dative fēore). Compare Old English ā tō fēore (“ever in life”), Old English feorhlīf (“life”).
Sense 5 of the adverb was likely formed by association with never, which also carries the meaning of did not in colloquial Singaporean and Malaysian English. Also, compare Chinese 有 … 過 /有 … 过 (yǒu ... guò / jau⁵ ... gwo³, “has […] before”).

Sentences

What did he ever do for his country ?

He has been doing so ever since it fell dark .

And yet , none of these people has ever met the old king .

No wise man ever wishes to be younger .

He was absolutely the best " Star Wars " artist you could ever want to have .

He was the first career employee ever to become director of the agency .