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every

det.
US //ˈɛvɝi// UK //ˈɛvɹi// ev·ery
  1. 1 all members of a group (det.)
    A1 Beginner

    used to refer to all the people or things in a group, one by one.

    used to refer to all individual members of a set without exception. While it refers to a group, it is grammatically singular and takes a singular verb.

    Example

    Every student in the class has a different book to read.

    Example

    Every citizen has a responsibility to participate in the democratic process, regardless of their personal political leanings.
    Pitfall
    Every students in the class passed.
    Every student in the class passed.

    The word 'every' must be followed by a singular noun, even though you are talking about a group.

  2. 2 how often something happens (det.)
    A2 Elementary

    used to show how often something happens or the distance between things.

    indicates frequency or regular intervals in time or space.

    Example

    The bus comes every ten minutes during the morning.

    Example

    The committee meets every third Thursday of the month to review the latest financial reports.
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  1. 3 complete or total (det.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    used to show that something is complete or that you have a lot of a feeling.

    used to emphasize the completeness or high degree of a quality or emotion.

    Example

    I have every confidence that you will do a great job.

    Example

    The legal team made every effort to ensure the contract was signed before the end of the fiscal year.
Origin

Inherited from Middle English every, everich, eaver-euch, averiche, aver alche, ever ælche, from Old English ǣfre ǣlċ, ǣfre ǣġhwelċ (“each and every”). By surface analysis, ever + each or ever + which.

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