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equal definition

equal (ē′kwəl)

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
  5. Archaic fair; just; impartial
  6. Archaic smooth and flat; level
  7. Archaic equable

Etymology: ME < L aequalis, equal < aequus, level, even, flat

noun

any thing or person that is equal to be the equal of another

transitive verb equaled e′qualed or equalled e′qualled, equaling e′qual·ing or equalling e′qual·ling

  1. to be equal to; match in value, degree, etc.
  2. to do or make something equal to to equal a record
  3. Archaic to make equal; equalize

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms equal idiom

equal Synonyms

equal

modif.

even, regular, like, same, identical, similar, equivalent, commensurate, comparable, tantamount, uniform, invariable, equable, unvarying, balanced, fair, just, impartial, unbiased, to the same degree, on a footing with, without distinction, in as many as, equitable, selfsame, coordinate, one and the same, of a piece, alike, level, parallel, corresponding, correspondent, according, proportionate, coextensive, congruent, coequal, even-steven*.

Antonyms unequal, uneven, different*. See syn. study at same.same.


equal

n.

parallel, match, counterpart, complement, peer, compeer, fellow, mate, twin, double, likeness, opposite number, alter ego, companion, copy, duplicate, equivalent, rival, competitor.


equal

v.

match, meet, rank with, be the same as, be equal to, rival, touch, parallel, equate, coordinate, approach, live up to, come up to, amount to, consist of, comprise, be made of, be composed of, measure up to, stack up against, tie, knot the score, check with, even off, break even, be the equivalent of, be as good as, keep pace with, come to, reach, compare, accord with, square with, tally with, agree, correspond, be tantamount to, be identical, be commensurate, rise to, rise to meet.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

equal Usage Examples

Object

  • boolean: Method Detail equals public boolean equals ( Object other ) Compares this CRL for equality with the given object.

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • contribute: The University contributes an amount equal to approximately 14 % of salary.

Modifies a noun

  • footing: However, from 2002/03 all students taking a module at any level would be treated on an equal footing regardless of their Stage.

Modifying Another Word

  • roughly: You now have 3 piles, roughly equal thirds.

Infinitive complement

  • zero: Setting MAJOR equal to zero suppresses major tickmarks entirely.

Used with adjective complement

  • compare: Returns the number of keys that compare equal with target.

Preposition: in

  • dignity: Boys and girls are equal in dignity; they are also equal in fallenness.
equal usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

equal quotes

Whenyou meet someone better thanyourself, turnyour thoughts to becoming his equal.When you meet someone not as good as you are, look within and examine your own self.

-Confucius or K'ung Fu-tse,'The MasterK'ung'

Until a woman is free to be as incompetent as the average male then she will never be completely equal.

-Cunningham, Roseanna

Le bon sens est la chose du monde la mieux partage¤  e: car chacun pense en e"  tre si bien pourvu, que ceux me"  me qui sont les plus difficiles a'   contenter en toute autre chose n'ont point coutume d'en de¤  sirer plus qu'ils ont. En quoi il n'est pas vraisemblable que tous se trompent; mais pluto" t  cela te¤  moigne que la puissance de bien juger et distinguer le vrai d'avec le faux, qui est proprement ce qu'on nomme le bon sens ou la raison, est naturellement e¤  gale en tous les hommes. Good sense is the most fairly distributed thing in the world; for everyone thinks himself so well supplied with it, that even those who are hardest to satisfy in every other way do not usually desire more of it than they already have. In this matter it is not likely that everybody is mistaken; it rather goes to show that the power of judging well and distinguishing truth from falsehood, which is what we properly mean by good sense or reason, is naturally equal in all men.

-Descartes, Rene¤

equal quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"equal." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/equal>

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equal. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/equal

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