Definition of 'equal'
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense equals
, present participle equalling
, past tense, past participle equalled
regional note: in AM, use equaling, equaled
1. adjective
If two things are equal or if one thing is equal to another, they are the same in size, number, standard, or value.
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If different groups of people have equal rights or are given equal treatment, they have the same rights or are treated the same as each other, however different
they are.
3. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If you say that people are equal, you mean that they have or should have the same rights and opportunities as each other.
4. countable noun
Someone who is your equal has the same ability, status, or rights as you have.
5. adjective
6. link verb
If something equals a particular number or amount, it is the same as that amount or the equivalent of that amount.
7. verb
To equal something or someone means to be as good or as great as them.
8.
See has no equal
9.
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
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Word Frequency
equal in British English
adjective
5. (usually foll by to)
to be equal to one's work
6. another word for equivalent (sense 3a)
noun
7.
a person or thing equal to another, esp in merit, ability, etc
he has no equal when it comes to boxing
verbWord forms: equals, equalling, equalled, US equals, equaling, equaled
▶ USAGE The use of more equal as in from now on their relationship will be a more equal one is acceptable in modern English usage. Equally is preferred to equally as in sentences such as reassuring the victims is equally important. Just as is preferred to equally as in sentences such as their surprise was just as great as his9. (intransitive; usually foll by out)
to become equal or level
10. (transitive)
to make, perform, or do something equal to
to equal the world record
11. (transitive) archaic
to make equal
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
equally (ˈequally) adverb
Word origin
C14: from Latin aequālis, from aequus level, of obscure origin
Word Frequency
equal in American English
adjective
1.
of the same quantity, size, number, value, degree, intensity, quality, etc.
2.
having the same rights, privileges, ability, rank, etc.
3.
evenly proportioned; balanced or uniform in effect or operation
4.
having the necessary ability, strength, power, capacity, or courage
with to equal to the challenge
noun
8.
any thing or person that is equal
to be the equal of another
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈequaled or ˈequalled, ˈequaling or ˈequalling
9.
to be equal to; match in value, degree, etc.
10.
to do or make something equal to
to equal a record
SIMILAR WORDS: same
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin
ME < L aequalis, equal < aequus, level, even, flat
Word Frequency
equal in American English
(ˈikwəl) (verb equaled, equaling or esp Brit equalled, equalling)
adjective
1. (often fol. by to or with)
as great as; the same as
The velocity of sound is not equal to that of light
2.
like or alike in quantity, degree, value, etc.; of the same rank, ability, merit, etc
two students of equal brilliance
3.
evenly proportioned or balanced
an equal contest
4.
uniform in operation or effect
equal laws
6.
having adequate powers, ability, or means
He was equal to the task
7.
level, as a plain
9.
impartial or equitable
noun
10.
a person or thing that is equal
transitive verb
SYNONYMS 2. proportionate, commensurate, coordinate, correspondent. equal, equivalent, tantamount imply a correspondence between two or more things. equal indicates a correspondence in all respects or in a particular respect: A dime is equal to 10 cents (that is, in purchasing power). equivalent indicates a correspondence in one or more respects, but not in all: An egg is said to be the equivalent of a pound of meat in nutritive value. tantamount, a word of limited application, is used of immaterial things that are equivalent:
The prisoner's refusal to answer was tantamount to an admission of guilt. 4. even, uniform, regular, unvarying, invariant. 6. suited, fitted. 10. peer, compeer, match, mate, fellow.ANTONYMS 2. different. 6. inadequate.USAGE 1–9. See unique.11.
to be or become equal to; meet or match
So far the rate of production doesn't equal the demand
If A equals B and B equals C, then A equals C
12.
to make or do something equal to
No matter how he tries, he can't equal his brother's achievements
13. archaic
to make equal; equalize
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[1350–1400; ME (adj.) ‹ L aequālis equal, like, equiv. to aequ(us) even, plain, just + -ālis -al1]Examples of 'equal' in a sentence
equal
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In other languages
equal
British English: equal
/ˈiːkwəl/ ADJECTIVE
If two things are equal, or if one thing is equal to another, they are the same in size, number, or value.
...equal numbers of men and women.
- American English: equal /ˈikwəl/
- Arabic: مُساوٍ
- Brazilian Portuguese: igual
- Chinese: 相等的
- Croatian: ravnopravan
- Czech: stejný
- Danish: lige
- Dutch: gelijk
- European Spanish: igual
- Finnish: tasavertainen
- French: égal
- German: gleich
- Greek: ίσος
- Italian: uguale
- Japanese: 等しい
- Korean: 같은
- Norwegian: lik
- Polish: równy
- European Portuguese: igual
- Romanian: egal
- Russian: равный
- Latin American Spanish: igual
- Swedish: jämbördig
- Thai: ซึ่งเท่ากัน
- Turkish: eşit
- Ukrainian: рівний
- Vietnamese: bằng nhau
British English: equal
/ˈiːkwəl/ VERB
To equal something or someone means to be as good or as great as them.
He has equalled his opponent's record of five championship titles in a season.
- American English: equal /ˈikwəl/
- Arabic: يُساوِي
- Brazilian Portuguese: igualar
- Chinese: 比得上
- Croatian: ujednačiti
- Czech: rovnat se kolik, komu
- Danish: være lig med
- Dutch: evenaren
- European Spanish: igualar
- Finnish: olla tasavertainen
- French: égaler
- German: gleichen
- Greek: εξισώνω
- Italian: equivalere
- Japanese: ・・・に等しい
- Korean: ...과 같다
- Norwegian: være lik
- Polish: dorównać
- European Portuguese: igualar
- Romanian: a egala
- Russian: равняться
- Latin American Spanish: igualar
- Swedish: vara lik
- Thai: ทำให้เท่าเทียมกัน
- Turkish: eşitlemek
- Ukrainian: дорівнювати
- Vietnamese: bằng với
British English: equal
NOUN /ˈiːkwəl/
Someone who is your equal has the same ability, status, or rights as you have.
These top-class athletes treated us as their equals.
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Definition of equal from the Collins English Dictionary
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