NYT Dictionary
EVER
/ˈɛvə(ɹ)/AdverbAdjectiveDeterminerEV-erev-er · 2 syllablesGrade 3
Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2026
Meaning
Always, frequently, forever.
Etymology
Origin: Old English
From Middle English ever, from Old English ǣfre, originally a phrase whose first element undoubtedly consists of Old English ā (“ever, always”) + in (“in”) + an element possibly from feorh (“life, existence”) (dative fēore). Compare Old English ā tō fēore (“ever in life”), Old English feorhlīf (“life”) from feorh (“life”) + līf (“life”). Sense 5 of the adverb was likely formed by association with never, which also carries the meaning of did not in colloquial Singaporean and Malaysian English. Also, compare Chinese 有 … 過 /有 … 过 (yǒu ... guò / jau⁵ ... gwo³, “has […] before”).
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Antonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 1 recorded puzzle: