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uneven

adj. · v.
US //əˈnivən// UK //ʌnˈiːvən// un·even
  1. 1 bumpy or rough (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    not flat or smooth; having a surface that goes up and down.

    describing a surface that is not level, smooth, or flat; characterized by irregularities such as bumps or pits.

    Example

    The old road was so uneven that it was difficult to ride a bike on it.

    Example

    The contractor struggled to lay the tiles correctly because the underlying concrete floor was significantly uneven.
  2. 2 not equal or uniform (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    not balanced or equal in size, amount, or strength.

    lacking symmetry, balance, or uniformity in distribution or proportion.

    Example

    The two teams were uneven, with one side having much better players.

    Example

    The wealth distribution in the region remains uneven, with the majority of resources concentrated in the urban centers.
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  1. 3 varying in quality (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    changing from good to bad; not consistent.

    characterized by inconsistent quality or performance; varying between high and low standards.

    Example

    The actor gave an uneven performance, being great in some scenes but boring in others.

    Example

    Critics noted that while the novel had brilliant moments of prose, the pacing was uneven and the ending felt rushed.
  2. 4 odd numbers (adj.)
    C2 Proficiency Archaic Math

    describing a number that cannot be divided exactly by two.

    pertaining to odd numbers; not divisible by two. This usage is largely restricted to historical or specific mathematical contexts.

    Example

    In some old books, they use the word uneven to mean numbers like three or five.

    Example

    The treatise discusses the properties of uneven numbers, a term the author uses interchangeably with what we now call odd integers.
  3. 5 to make rough (v.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    to make a surface rough or not flat.

    to cause a surface or distribution to become irregular or non-uniform. This transitive use is relatively rare in modern English.

    Example

    The heavy rain started to uneven the dirt path through the garden.

    Example

    The constant shifting of the tectonic plates began to uneven the seabed over several millennia.
    • roughen
Origin

From Middle English uneven, from Old English unefen (“unequal, unlike, dissimilar, diverse, irregular”), equivalent to un- + even. Cognate with Dutch oneven (“unequal, uneven, odd”), German uneben (“uneven, rough, irregular, bumpy”).

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