equal

1 of 3

adjective

1
a(1)
: of the same measure, quantity, amount, or number as another
(2)
: identical in mathematical value or logical denotation : equivalent
b
: like in quality, nature, or status
c
: like for each member of a group, class, or society
provide equal employment opportunities
2
: regarding or affecting all objects in the same way : impartial
3
: free from extremes: such as
a
: tranquil in mind or mood
b
: not showing variation in appearance, structure, or proportion
4
a
: capable of meeting the requirements of a situation or a task
b
: suitable
bored with work not equal to his abilities

equal

2 of 3

noun

1
: one that is equal
insists that women can be absolute equals with menAnne Bernays
2
: an equal quantity

equal

3 of 3

verb

equaled or equalled; equaling or equalling

transitive verb

1
: to be equal to
especially : to be identical in value to
2
archaic : equalize
3
: to make or produce something equal to
Choose the Right Synonym for equal

same, selfsame, very, identical, equivalent, equal mean not different or not differing from one another.

same may imply and selfsame always implies that the things under consideration are one thing and not two or more things.

took the same route
derived from the selfsame source

very, like selfsame, may imply identity, or, like same may imply likeness in kind.

the very point I was trying to make

identical may imply selfsameness or suggest absolute agreement in all details.

identical results

equivalent implies amounting to the same thing in worth or significance.

two houses equivalent in market value

equal implies being identical in value, magnitude, or some specified quality.

equal shares in the business

Examples of equal in a Sentence

Adjective an equal number of apples and oranges We divided the profits into three equal shares. The play combines tragedy and comedy in equal measure. The opposing candidate has demanded equal time on television. The fractions 1/2 and 2/4 are equal. providing equal opportunities for children of all races We need to have equal academic standards for male and female students. Noun I consider him my equal. We are all equals here. Verb Nothing can ever equal that experience. See if you can equal that! a weight lifter attempting to equal his rival's performance No one can equal him in chess.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Apps like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Signal can all be installed on iPhones and give messages sent from users on Android or iPhone equal treatment. Lauren Goode, WIRED, 24 Mar. 2024 To do that so quickly after labor feels equal parts superhuman and inhuman. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 22 Mar. 2024 But it wasn’t enforced aggressively, and four years later a nonprofit group that advocated for equal access to housing conducted an investigation and found that many landlords were violating the law. Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024 My previous favorite White Negroni variation was one made with mezcal, the classic three equal parts formula, much easier to make. M. Carrie Allan, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024 In a pinch, it can be made by mixing equal parts milk and cream. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 21 Mar. 2024 The drivetrain sits in an Art Morrison sport chassis, built for an equal mix of performance and comfort. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 20 Mar. 2024 The company with $4.3 trillion in assets—equal to one in four U.S. mortgages—aims to bring liquidity to the housing market and lower interest rates for homeowners. Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 20 Mar. 2024 Consider a monthly sum equal to 5% of your gross income. Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2024
Noun
Imagine the league replacing a top MLS player such as Messi with a minor league player and trying to pass them off as equals. Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024 In movies, sound and image are equals, and talk is action. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2024 Mbappé, alongside first Neymar and then Lionel Messi, too, was supposed to establish the club as a genuine superpower, an equal of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and the giants of the Premier League. Rory Smith, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2024 Hispano-Suiza, founded in 1904, set the stage as a Spanish luxury marque every bit the equal of Rolls-Royce, Bugatti, and Mercedes. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 5 Feb. 2024 The two will be equals, but Ms. O’Neill, whose party captured more seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly in the 2022 elections, will hold the more prestigious title. Brian Melley, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Feb. 2024 There was a time in American automotive history when marques like Duesenberg, Packard, and Cadillac were the equal of anything from Europe, playing in the same elite circle as Rolls-Royce, Bugatti, Isotta Fraschini, or Hispano Suiza. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 15 Jan. 2024 Orange Shirt Day is a day to remember that people weren't always treated as equals. Journal Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2024 That one day all Israelis can see us as their equals—as people who need to live on our own land, in safety and prosperity, and build a future. Mosab Abu Toha, The New Yorker, 25 Dec. 2023
Verb
Kim Villalobos matched a career-high with 14 rebounds as SDSU equaled a season-high with a plus-20-rebound margin. San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2024 An analysis by the consulting firm Wood Mackenzie found that the energy needed by crypto operations aiming to link to the grid would equal a quarter of the electricity used in the state at peak demand. Evan Halper, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024 Clear water often equals spooky trout that require accurate presentations and fewer mistakes. Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 7 Mar. 2024 Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album. Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 4 Mar. 2024 Overall that’s about $26,000 per bed or $2,000-plus per month, which would equal the rent on a mid-range apartment. Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 29 Feb. 2024 The Heat started its 31st different quintet this season, equaling the franchise record for a single season. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2024 The 39-minute flight was 223 miles and used $1,393 of fuel, which equals about 3 tons of CO2 emissions, according to the account. Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 21 Feb. 2024 One unit equals to one album sale, 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams for a song on the album. Pamela Bustios, Billboard, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'equal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Latin aequalis, from aequus level, equal

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Noun

1573, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of equal was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near equal

Cite this Entry

“Equal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/equal. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

equal

1 of 3 adjective
1
a
: exactly the same in number, amount, degree, rank, or quality
an equal number of apples and oranges
officers of equal rank
of equal importance
b
: identical in mathematical value : equivalent
2
: not varying from one person or part to another
equal job opportunities
equal pressure throughout the system
3
: impartial
equal laws
4
: capable of meeting requirements : sufficient
equal to the task
equally adverb

equal

2 of 3 noun
1
: one that is equal
has no equal at chess
2
: an equal quantity

equal

3 of 3 verb
equaled or equalled; equaling or equalling
1
: to be equal to
2
: to produce something equal to : match
see if you can equal that!

Legal Definition

equal

1 of 2 adjective
1
: like in quality, nature, or status
2
: like for each member of a group, class, or society
3
: regarding or affecting all objects in the same way : impartial

equal

2 of 2 noun
: one that is equal
Etymology

Adjective

Latin aequalis, from aequus level, equal

More from Merriam-Webster on equal

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