Ever | Mean of ever in English Dictionary

/ˈɛvɚ/

• at any time
1. The crime rate is higher now than it has ever been.
2. He's forgotten all he's ever learned about history.
3. Have you ever been to France?
4. She's doing fine and is as pretty as ever.
5. No one has ever seen a better example of woodwork.
6. We need your help now more than ever (before).
7. Has this ever been done before?
8. That was my best vacation ever. [=the best vacation I have ever had]
9. Did it ever occur to you that I might like more myself?
10. He's a born politician if ever I saw one. [=he is certainly a born politician]
11. That was the worst movie I ever saw.
12. I don't ever want to do that again. = (informal) I don't want to ever do that again. = I don't want to do that again, ever!
• at all times
1. He is ever [=always] faithful.
2. moving ever westward
3. a guard who is ever watchful = an ever-watchful guard
• to a greater degree
1. Technology in recent years has become ever more sophisticated.
2. The deadline draws ever closer.
3. Millions of farmers were forced into ever-deeper debt during the Great Depression.

• as has always been true
1. The problem, as ever, is to find a better way to control spending.
• from that time forward
1. She remembered him fondly ever after.
2. The prince saved the queen and they all lived happily ever after.
3. His biography tells the story of a poor boy who grew up to be a millionaire and lived happily ever after.
• at different times
1. Ever and anon [=every so often] there came the sound of bells.
• continually or often from a past time until now
1. We both liked the idea and have been working on it ever since. [=since then]
2. I went to the festival its first year and have been returning ever since.
• continually from the time in the past when
1. She's wanted to be a firefighter ever since she was a young girl.
• almost never
1. She hardly ever sings anymore.
2. I scarcely ever think of them now.