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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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The fact that Affleck and Lopez have been committed to staying close with each other’s kids has been evident since the early days of the divorce rumors. —Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 17 Apr. 2025 Political representatives are sensitive to elections, as is evident in the close races in Florida on April 1. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025 Clark's influence on the popularity of women's basketball over the last year has been evident in various statistics. —Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2025 The financial discussions, key in whichever setting the team pursues, are not yet evident with a North Kansas City location, and that’s only relevant if the option intrigues the Royals. —Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for evident

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

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Cite this Entry

“Evident.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/evident. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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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

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