ENGLISH
REFERENCE

evident

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈɛvədənt// UK //ˈɛvɪdənt// ev·i·dent Academic General-service

adj. easy to see or understand. You use this when something is so clear that nobody needs to explain it to you.

adj. plainly visible or easily understood; obvious. Frequently used in formal or academic contexts to introduce a logical conclusion or an observable fact.


SIMPLE

It was evident that she was very tired.

CONTEXTUAL

The success of the new policy became evident when the local employment rates began to rise steadily.

COMPLEX

While the immediate benefits of the merger were evident to the shareholders, the long-term impact on the company's internal culture remained a subject of intense debate among the staff.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English evident, from Old French evident, from Latin ēvidēns (“visible, apparent, clear, plain”) (compare Late Latin ēvideor (“to appear plainly”)), from ē (“out”) + videō (“see”), present participle vidēns, deponent videor (“to appear, seem”). Displaced native Old English sweotol.

Usage

Commonly follows a linking verb like 'be', 'become', or 'seem'. Often used in the construction 'it is evident that...'.

Pitfall

It is evident for me that he is lyingIt is evident to me that he is lyingWhen specifying the person who perceives the fact, use the preposition 'to' rather than 'for'.

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