Standard Lemma guide

equal

adj · noun · verb · 20 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈiːkwəl/
  • archaic, dialectal: /ˈiːkəl/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -iːkwəl
  • CMU ARPABET: IY1 K W AH0 L Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

The same in one or more respects.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable, usually

Examples

  • Near-synonyms: equivalent; see also Thesaurus:equal

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: equivalent

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

The same in one or more respects.

The same in value (status, merit, etc): having or deserving the same rights or treatment.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable, usually

Examples

  • We hold that all men are created equal and are thus equal under the law.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: equivalent

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

The same in one or more respects.

The same in all respects that matter practically; interchangeable, fungible, or (even sometimes) identical for practical purposes.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable, usually

Examples

  • Equal conditions should produce equal results.
  • All else being equal, we can expect this factor to have no discernible effect by itself.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: equivalent

Antonyms: none provided

4

adj

Meaning 4

The same in one or more respects.

Exactly identical, having the same value.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable, usually

Topics: mathematics, sciences

Examples

  • All right angles are equal.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: equivalent

Antonyms: none provided

5

adj

Meaning 5

Fair, impartial.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable, obsolete, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: objective, unbiased, candid, cold, clinical, detached, egal, equal, equitable, evenhanded, fairhanded, fair-minded, disinterested, dispassionate, impartial, imprejudicate, indifferent, indistinguishing, neuter, neutral, nonaligned, nonpartial, nonpartisan, nonpersonal, unbigoted, uninterested, unpartial, unpartisan, unprejudiced, unprepossessed

Antonyms: none provided

6

adj

Meaning 6

Adequate; sufficiently capable or qualified.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: comparable, not-comparable, usually

Examples

  • This test is pretty tough, but I think I'm equal to it.
  • be equal to the task

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

adj

Meaning 7

Not variable; equable; uniform; even.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable, obsolete, usually

Examples

  • an equal movement

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: even, fair, uniform, unvarying, constant, changeless, equal, nonchanging, static, stationary, unaltering, unchanging, consistent, equable, even-keeled, monotonous, regular, samely, stable, steady, uncheckered, unvaried

Antonyms: none provided

8

adj

Meaning 8

Intended for voices of one kind only, either all male or all female; not mixed.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable, usually

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

noun

Meaning 9

A person or thing of equal status to others.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • We're all equals here.
  • This beer has no equal.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

noun

Meaning 10

State of being equal; equality.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, obsolete, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

verb

Meaning 11

To be equal to, to have the same value as; to correspond to.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: copulative

Topics: mathematics, sciences

Examples

  • Two plus two equals four.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

12

verb

Meaning 12

To make equivalent to; to cause to match.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • David equaled the water levels of the bottles, so they now both contain exactly 1 liter.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

13

verb

Meaning 13

To match in degree or some other quality, to match up to.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

14

verb

Meaning 14

To have as consequence, to amount to, to mean.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: copulative, informal

Examples

  • Losing this deal equals losing your job.
  • Might does not equal right.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

15

adjective

Meaning 15

having the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • she had adequate training
  • her training was adequate
  • she was adequate to the job
  • he was equal to the task

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: adequate

Antonyms: none provided

16

adjective

Meaning 16

having the same quantity, value, or measure as another

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • on equal terms
  • all men are equal before the law

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: unequal

17

noun

Meaning 17

a person who is of equal standing with another in a group

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: peer, match, compeer

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: person, individual, someone, somebody, mortal, soul

Narrower terms: associate, contemporary, coeval, gangsta, stand-in, substitute, relief, reliever, backup, backup man, fill-in, successor, replacement, townsman

18

verb

Meaning 18

make equal, uniform, corresponding, or matching

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • let's equalize the duties among all employees in this office
  • The company matched the discount policy of its competitors

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: match, equalize, equalise, equate

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change, alter, modify

Narrower terms: homologize, homologise, homogenize, homogenise, tie, draw

19

verb

Meaning 19

be identical or equivalent to

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • One dollar equals 1,000 rubles these days!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: be

Antonyms: differ

Narrower terms: equate, correspond, match, fit, check, jibe, gibe, tally, agree, represent, stand for, translate

20

verb

Meaning 20

be equal to in quality or ability

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Nothing can rival cotton for durability
  • Your performance doesn't even touch that of your colleagues
  • Her persistence and ambition only matches that of her parents

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: touch, rival, match

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: compete, vie, contend

History

Etymology

From Middle English equal, from Latin aequālis. Doublet of aequalis and egal.

Across languages

Translations

271 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Afrikaans: gelyk — the same in all respects
  • Afrikaans: dieselfde — the same in all respects
  • Afrikaans: identies — the same in all respects
  • Albanian: njëjtë — the same in all respects
  • Arabic: عِدْل (ʕidl) — the same in all respects
  • Arabic: مُتساوي (mutsāwi) — the same in all respects
  • Aragonese: igual — the same in all respects
  • Armenian: հավասար (havasar) — the same in all respects
  • Assamese: সমান (xman) — the same in all respects
  • Asturian: igual — the same in all respects
  • Azerbaijani: bərabər — the same in all respects
  • Azerbaijani: eyni — the same in all respects
  • Basque: berdin — the same in all respects
  • Belarusian: ро́ўны (równy) — the same in all respects
  • Belarusian: адна́кі (adnáki) — the same in all respects
  • Belarusian: адно́лькавы (adnólʹkavy) — the same in all respects
  • Belarusian: то́й жа (tój ža) — the same in all respects
  • Bulgarian: една́къв (ednákǎv) — the same in all respects
  • Bulgarian: ра́вен (ráven) — the same in all respects
  • Bulgarian: същ (sǎšt) — the same in all respects
  • Catalan: igual — the same in all respects
  • Chinese Mandarin: 平等 (píngděng) — the same in all respects
  • Chinese Mandarin: 同等 (tóngděng) — the same in all respects
  • Ngazidja Comorian: sawa — the same in all respects
  • Czech: stejný — the same in all respects
  • Czech: rovný — the same in all respects
  • Danish: lig — the same in all respects
  • Dutch: gelijk — the same in all respects
  • Dutch: gelijke — the same in all respects
  • Dutch: identiek — the same in all respects
  • Dutch: identieke — the same in all respects
  • Esperanto: egala — the same in all respects
  • Esperanto: sama — the same in all respects
  • Estonian: võrdne — the same in all respects
  • Finnish: sama — the same in all respects
  • Finnish: samanlainen — the same in all respects
  • French: égal — the same in all respects
  • Old French: igal — the same in all respects
  • Old French: ivel — the same in all respects
  • Friulian: avuâl — the same in all respects
  • Galician: igual — the same in all respects
  • Georgian: თანასწორი (tanasc̣ori) — the same in all respects
  • Georgian: თანაბარი (tanabari) — the same in all respects
  • Georgian: ტოლი (ṭoli) — the same in all respects
  • Georgian: სწორი (sc̣ori) — the same in all respects
  • German: gleich — the same in all respects
  • Greek: ίσος (ísos) — the same in all respects
  • Ancient Greek: ἴσος (ísos) — the same in all respects
  • Haitian Creole: egal — the same in all respects
  • Hebrew: שָׁוֶה (shavé) — the same in all respects
  • Hebrew: שָׁוָה (shavá) — the same in all respects
  • Hebrew: שווה — the same in all respects
  • Hindi: समान (samān) — the same in all respects
  • Hindi: बराबर (barābar) — the same in all respects
  • Hungarian: egyenlő — the same in all respects
  • Hungarian: egyenrangú — the same in all respects
  • Ingrian: yhenlaajain — the same in all respects
  • Italian: uguale — the same in all respects
  • Italian: pari — the same in all respects
  • Japanese: 等しい (hitoshii) — the same in all respects
  • Japanese: 同じ (onaji) — the same in all respects
  • Japanese: 平等 (byōdō) — the same in all respects
  • Kabuverdianu: igual — the same in all respects
  • Khmer: ស្មើ (smaə) — the same in all respects
  • Korean: 같다 (gatda) — the same in all respects
  • Korean: 동일하다 (dong'ilhada) — the same in all respects
  • Korean: 똑같다 (ttokgatda) — the same in all respects
  • Northern Kurdish: wekhev — the same in all respects
  • Northern Kurdish: yeksan — the same in all respects
  • Kyrgyz: тең (teŋ) — the same in all respects
  • Latin: aequus — the same in all respects
  • Latin: pār — the same in all respects
  • Latvian: līdzīgs — the same in all respects
  • Latvian: vienāds — the same in all respects
  • Lithuanian: lygus — the same in all respects
  • Lithuanian: tolygus — the same in all respects
  • Lithuanian: vienodas — the same in all respects
  • Lombard: ugual — the same in all respects
  • Macedonian: еднаков (ednakov) — the same in all respects
  • Macedonian: ист (ist) — the same in all respects
  • Khiamniungan Naga: vī — the same in all respects
  • Norwegian: lik — the same in all respects
  • Occitan: egal — the same in all respects
  • Old English: ġelīċ — the same in all respects
  • Persian: برابر (barâbar) — the same in all respects
  • Persian: همتا (hamtâ) — the same in all respects
  • Piedmontese: ugual — the same in all respects
  • Polish: równy — the same in all respects
  • Polish: jednakowy — the same in all respects
  • Portuguese: igual — the same in all respects
  • Quechua: paqta — the same in all respects
  • Romanian: egal — the same in all respects
  • Russian: ра́вный (rávnyj) — the same in all respects
  • Russian: одина́ковый (odinákovyj) — the same in all respects
  • Russian: то́т же (tót že) — the same in all respects
  • Sardinian: aguale — the same in all respects
  • Sardinian: auguale — the same in all respects
  • Sardinian: gali — the same in all respects
  • Sardinian: oguale — the same in all respects
  • Sardinian: uguale — the same in all respects
  • Sardinian: iguale — the same in all respects
  • Sardinian: chitu — the same in all respects
  • Sardinian: parinale — the same in all respects
  • Scottish Gaelic: leithid — the same in all respects
  • Serbo-Croatian: је̏дна̄к — the same in all respects
  • Serbo-Croatian: и̏стӣ — the same in all respects
  • Serbo-Croatian: jȅdnāk — the same in all respects
  • Serbo-Croatian: ȉstī — the same in all respects
  • Sicilian: uguali — the same in all respects
  • Sicilian: aguali — the same in all respects
  • Sicilian: avali — the same in all respects
  • Sicilian: eguali — the same in all respects
  • Sicilian: iguali — the same in all respects
  • Slovak: rovnaký — the same in all respects
  • Slovene: enak — the same in all respects
  • Slovene: ȋsti — the same in all respects
  • Spanish: igual — the same in all respects
  • Spanish: equiparable — the same in all respects
  • Spanish: equivalente — the same in all respects
  • Spanish: equipolente — the same in all respects
  • Swedish: lik — the same in all respects
  • Tagalog: parehas — the same in all respects
  • Tajik: баробар (barobar) — the same in all respects
  • Thai: เท่ากัน (tâo-gan) — the same in all respects
  • Turkish: eşit — the same in all respects
  • Ottoman Turkish: سوی (seviy) — the same in all respects
  • Ukrainian: рі́вний (rívnyj) — the same in all respects
  • Ukrainian: одна́ковий (odnákovyj) — the same in all respects
  • Ukrainian: одна́кий (odnákyj) — the same in all respects
  • Ukrainian: то́й же (tój že) — the same in all respects
  • Urdu: سمان (samān) — the same in all respects
  • Urdu: برابر (barābar) — the same in all respects
  • Uyghur: تەڭ (teng) — the same in all respects
  • Uyghur: باراۋەر (barawer) — the same in all respects
  • Uyghur: ئوخشاش (oxshash) — the same in all respects
  • Uzbek: teng — the same in all respects
  • Walloon: ewal — the same in all respects
  • Welsh: cydraddol — the same in all respects
  • Yakut: тыҥ (tïŋ) — the same in all respects
  • Zazaki: veraver — the same in all respects
  • Afrikaans: gelyk — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Arabic: مُسَاوٍ (musāwin) — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Arabic: الْمُسَاوِي (al-musāwī) — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Belarusian: ро́ўны (równy) — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Bulgarian: ра́вен (ráven) — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Catalan: igual — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Chinese Mandarin: 等於 /等于 (děngyú) — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Chinese Mandarin: 等量 (děngliàng) — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Czech: stejný — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Czech: rovný — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Dutch: gelijk — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Dutch: gelijke — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Dutch: identiek — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Dutch: identieke — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Esperanto: sama — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Finnish: samansuuruinen — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Finnish: identtinen — mathematics: exactly identical
  • French: égal — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Galician: igual — mathematics: exactly identical
  • German: gleich — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Greek: ίσος (ísos) — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Ancient Greek: ἴσος (ísos) — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Hindi: बराबर (barābar) — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Hungarian: egyenlő — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Italian: uguale — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Latvian: līdzīgs — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Latvian: vienlīdzīgs — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Lithuanian: lygus — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Maranao: repeng — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Norwegian: er lik — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Old English: ġelīċ — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Persian: برابر (barâbar) — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Polish: równy — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Portuguese: igual — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Romanian: egal — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Russian: ра́вный (rávnyj) — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Slovak: rovný — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Spanish: igual — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Spanish: equiparable — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Spanish: equivalente — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Spanish: equipolente — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Swedish: lik — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Tagalog: parehas — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Tajik: баробар (barobar) — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Turkish: eşit — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Ukrainian: рі́вний (rívnyj) — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Urdu: برابر (barābar) — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Uyghur: تەڭ (teng) — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Uyghur: تەڭلىك (tenglik) — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Uyghur: باراۋەر (barawer) — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Welsh: hafal — mathematics: exactly identical
  • Finnish: tasapuolinen — (obsolete in English) fair, impartial
  • Finnish: riittävän hyvä — adequate; sufficiently capable
  • Finnish: riittävä — adequate; sufficiently capable
  • Hungarian: alkalmas — adequate; sufficiently capable
  • Hungarian: megfelelő — adequate; sufficiently capable
  • Finnish: tasainen — (obsolete in English) not variable
  • Finnish: mies- — music: intended for voices of one kind only, either all male or all female
  • Finnish: nais- — music: intended for voices of one kind only, either all male or all female
  • Italian: uguale — music: intended for voices of one kind only, either all male or all female
  • Bulgarian: равен (raven) — person or thing of equal status to others
  • Dutch: gelijke — person or thing of equal status to others
  • Finnish: vertainen — person or thing of equal status to others
  • French: égal — person or thing of equal status to others
  • French: égale — person or thing of equal status to others
  • German: Gleichgestellter — person or thing of equal status to others
  • German: Gleichgestellte — person or thing of equal status to others
  • Icelandic: maki — person or thing of equal status to others
  • Icelandic: jafnoki — person or thing of equal status to others
  • Icelandic: jafningi — person or thing of equal status to others
  • Indonesian: sederajat — person or thing of equal status to others
  • Irish: diongbháil — person or thing of equal status to others
  • Irish: leithéid — person or thing of equal status to others
  • Italian: uguale — person or thing of equal status to others
  • Middle English: macche — person or thing of equal status to others
  • Middle English: make — person or thing of equal status to others
  • Old English: ġelīca — person or thing of equal status to others
  • Portuguese: igual — person or thing of equal status to others
  • Portuguese: par — person or thing of equal status to others
  • Russian: ра́вный (rávnyj) — person or thing of equal status to others
  • Russian: ро́вня (róvnja) — person or thing of equal status to others
  • Scottish Gaelic: leithid — person or thing of equal status to others
  • Spanish: igual — person or thing of equal status to others
  • Spanish: congénere — person or thing of equal status to others
  • Spanish: par — person or thing of equal status to others
  • Swedish: jämlike — person or thing of equal status to others
  • Swedish: like — person or thing of equal status to others
  • Turkish: eşit — person or thing of equal status to others
  • Welsh: cydradd — person or thing of equal status to others
  • Arabic: سَاوَى (sāwā) — be equal to
  • Bulgarian: равнявам се (ravnjavam se) — be equal to
  • Catalan: equivaldre — be equal to
  • Chinese Cantonese: 匹敵 /匹敌 (pat1 dik6) — be equal to
  • Chinese: 匹敵 /匹敌 (phit-tia̍k) — be equal to
  • Chinese Mandarin: 等於 /等于 (děngyú) — be equal to
  • Chinese Mandarin: 倫比 /伦比 (lúnbǐ) — be equal to
  • Chinese Mandarin: 匹敵 /匹敌 (pʻi3-ti2) — be equal to
  • Czech: rovnat se — be equal to
  • Danish: være lig med — be equal to
  • Dutch: gelijk zijn aan — be equal to
  • Esperanto: egali — be equal to
  • Finnish: olla yhtä suuri (kuin) — be equal to
  • French: égaler à — be equal to
  • German: gleichen — be equal to
  • Italian: eguagliare — be equal to
  • Khmer: ស្មើនឹង (smaə nɨng) — be equal to
  • Latin: adaequō — be equal to
  • Macedonian: е еднакво на (e ednakvo na) — be equal to
  • Māori: whārite — be equal to
  • Persian: برابر بودن — be equal to
  • Persian: مساوی بودن — be equal to
  • Persian: شدن (šodan) — be equal to
  • Persian: دادن (dâdan) — be equal to
  • Portuguese: ser igual a — be equal to
  • Portuguese: igualar — be equal to
  • Russian: равня́ться (ravnjátʹsja) — be equal to
  • Spanish: equivaler a — be equal to
  • Spanish: igualar a / con — be equal to
  • Swedish: vara lika med — be equal to
  • Thai: เท่ากับ (tâo-gàp) — be equal to
  • Turkish: eşleşmek — be equal to
  • Turkish: dengi olmak — be equal to
  • Turkish: eş düşmek — be equal to
  • Turkish: bire bir olmak — be equal to
  • Welsh: hafalu — be equal to
  • Welsh: bod yn hafal i — be equal to
  • Spanish: igualar — to make equivalent to; to cause to match
  • Dutch: betekenen — informal: have as its consequence
  • German: gleichen — informal: have as its consequence
  • Portuguese: significar — informal: have as its consequence
  • Swedish: betyda — informal: have as its consequence
Real reading context

equal in complete knowledge articles