ENGLISH
REFERENCE

every

adj.
A1 Beginner Oxford US //ˈɛvɝi// UK //ˈɛvɹi// ev·ery General-service

adj. used to talk about all the people or things in a group. You use it when you want to say that something is true for each one without exception.

adj. used to refer to all members of a group of three or more, considered individually. It precedes a singular noun to indicate a complete set or a regular frequency.


SIMPLE

I go for a walk every morning.

CONTEXTUAL

The teacher gave a new textbook to every student in the classroom.

COMPLEX

Every citizen has a responsibility to participate in the democratic process to ensure that the government remains accountable to the people it serves.

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.

Usage

Always followed by a singular countable noun; takes a singular verb even when referring to a large group.

Pitfall

every studentsevery studentEvery must be followed by a singular noun, even if you are thinking about many people.

Idioms15 entries

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