evident

adjective

ev·​i·​dent ˈe-və-dənt How to pronounce evident (audio)
-və-ˌdent
Synonyms of evidentnext
: clear to the vision or understanding

Synonyms

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Choose the Right Synonym for evident

evident, manifest, patent, distinct, obvious, apparent, plain, clear mean readily perceived or apprehended.

evident implies presence of visible signs that lead one to a definite conclusion.

an evident fondness for sweets

manifest implies an external display so evident that little or no inference is required.

manifest hostility

patent applies to a cause, effect, or significant feature that is clear and unmistakable once attention has been directed to it.

patent defects

distinct implies such sharpness of outline or definition that no unusual effort to see or hear or comprehend is required.

a distinct refusal

obvious implies such ease in discovering that it often suggests conspicuousness or little need for perspicacity in the observer.

the obvious solution

apparent is very close to evident except that it may imply more conscious exercise of inference.

for no apparent reason

plain suggests lack of intricacy, complexity, or elaboration.

her feelings about him are plain

clear implies an absence of anything that confuses the mind or obscures the pattern.

a clear explanation

Examples of evident in a Sentence

She spoke with evident anguish about the death of her son. The problems have been evident for quite some time.
Recent Examples on the Web Experts added that the damage isn’t always evident right away and can emerge a few hours or days after looking at the sun. —Daniel Wu, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024 The dramatic elevation changes of Augusta National are not always evident in Masters broadcasts. —Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024 This, Long said, was evident by the sheer number of people who came out to her vigil at the intersection where she was killed. —Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 8 Apr. 2024 Their close relationship was evident when Cameron surprised his dad in 2015 on the set of the Today show to congratulate him for becoming NBC’s Nightly News anchor. —Katie Mannion, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024 That may be evident again in the March consumer price index due Wednesday, as the overall CPI is seen accelerating on an annual basis, while the core measure that excludes food and energy is expected to tick down. —Lucia Kassai, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2024 Taking its name from the region of the Netherlands, the city's Dutch heritage is evident in its famous attractions like the Windmill Island Gardens, De Klomp Wooden Shoe and Delft Factory, and Nelis' Dutch Village. —Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 5 Apr. 2024 The collective took evident delight in another irony as well: The fact that video game designers often looked towards dance to give virtual characters some heft. —Ben Croll, Variety, 4 Apr. 2024 Disparities in satisfaction were also evident across student age and poverty levels, with high-poverty schools facing greater challenges in curriculum implementation. —Kristina Behr, Parents, 4 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'evident.' 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

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin evident-, evidens, from e- + vident-, videns, present participle of vidēre to see — more at wit

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Phrases Containing evident

Dictionary Entries Near evident

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evident

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Cite this Entry

“Evident.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/evident. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.

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Kids Definition

evident

adjective
ev·​i·​dent ˈev-əd-ənt How to pronounce evident (audio)
-ə-ˌdent
: clear to the sight or mind : plain
was evident that they were twins
Etymology

Middle English evident "clearly seen or understood," from early French evident (same meaning), from Latin evident-, evidens (same meaning), from e-, ex- "out, away" and vident-, videns, a form of vidēre "to see" — related to vision

More from Merriam-Webster on evident

Nglish: Translation of evident for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of evident for Arabic Speakers

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