equal
equal — adjective
1. having the same amount, size, or value as something else — for example, two piec
having the same amount, size, or value as something else — for example, two pieces of cake cut so that each is the same size, or two numbers that represent the same quantity.
The baker cut the cake into two equal halves for the twins.
collocation: equal halves
Both teams scored an equal number of goals, so the match ended in a draw.
collocation: equal number of
The two bottles hold an equal volume of water — one litre each.
Dividing the profits into four equal shares seemed fair to everyone.
collocation: equal shares
A day on Venus is roughly equal to 243 Earth days in length.
pattern: equal to + noun
- equal amount
- equal number
- equal size
- equal value
- equal shares
- equal halves
- equal parts
- identical
means exactly the same in every detail, stricter than 'equal'
- equivalent
same in effect or function, not necessarily in exact measure
- same
general term for not different; less precise than 'equal'
Grammar Patterns
equal to + noun
Usage Note
When comparing two items, use the pattern 'equal to + noun'. Unlike the verb sense, the adjective requires the preposition 'to': 'This amount is equal to that amount.'
Common Mistakes
2. treated or valued just like everyone else, with no one receiving better or worse
treated or valued just like everyone else, with no one receiving better or worse treatment because of who they are — for instance, every citizen sharing the identical legal protections regardless of background.
All citizens are equal under the law in a democratic society.
fixed phrase: equal under the law
Talia believes every child deserves equal access to quality education.
The company introduced an equal-pay policy for men and women doing the same job.
collocation: equal pay
The new law guarantees equal opportunities for all job applicants regardless of age.
collocation: equal opportunities
In many countries, women still fight for equal treatment in the workplace.
collocation: equal treatment
- equal rights
- equal opportunities
- equal pay
- equal treatment
- equal access
- equal status
- equal under the law
- unequal
not having the same rights or treatment
- discriminatory
treating people unfairly based on group differences
Grammar Patterns
equal + noun (attributive)
be + equal
Usage Note
Very common in formal, legal, and social-justice contexts. Often appears in fixed phrases such as 'equal rights', 'equal opportunities', and 'equal pay'.
Common Mistakes
3. having the necessary ability, strength, or courage to deal with a difficult situ
having the necessary ability, strength, or courage to deal with a difficult situation or task — for example, a doctor being equal to the demands of a complex surgery.
The young surgeon proved equal to the challenge of the emergency operation.
fixed pattern: prove equal to + noun
After months of training, Mayumi felt equal to managing the entire department alone.
pattern: feel equal to + gerund
The old wooden bridge was no longer equal to carrying the weight of heavy trucks.
The manager wondered if the new team was equal to the enormous task ahead.
pattern: equal to + noun phrase
- equal to the challenge
- equal to the task
- equal to the demands
- equal to the responsibility
- capable of
more common in everyday English, less formal
- up to
informal alternative; 'I'm not up to it today'
- adequate for
focuses on sufficiency rather than inherent ability
- unequal to
not having the necessary ability or strength
- incapable of
lacking the ability altogether
Grammar Patterns
be + equal + to + noun/gerund
Usage Note
This sense follows only the fixed pattern 'equal to + noun/gerund'. It is fairly formal and more common in written English than in everyday conversation. The negative form 'not equal to' is particularly frequent.
Common Mistakes
used to say that something is expected to be true if the situation stays the same and nothing unexpected happens
All things being equal, the train should arrive at the station by nine o'clock.
Other things being equal, a smaller class size usually leads to better student results.
having the same advantages, rights, or chances as someone else in a particular situation
The new trade agreement allows small businesses to compete on equal terms with larger corporations.
Thanks to the scholarship, students from low-income families can enter university on equal terms with their wealthier peers.
Used to say that if nothing else changes, a particular result is expected.
All things being equal, Maya will get the promotion this year.
Other things being equal, a larger house costs more to heat.
Having the same rights, chances, or advantages as someone else.
Diego can now compete on equal terms with older athletes.
Are women paid on equal terms with men in your company?
Used to criticize a situation where some people are treated better than others, despite claims of equality.
In that club, some members are more equal than others.
Sara noticed that some students are more equal than others in class.
equal — noun
1. a person whose ability, status, or importance matches another person's — for exa
a person whose ability, status, or importance matches another person's — for example, a chess champion who has no rival in the country, or a product that competes with the best on the market.
As a chess player, the young champion has no equal in the country.
fixed expression: have no equal
The new tablet is the equal of any high-end laptop in terms of speed.
pattern: the equal of + noun
Takeshi treats all of his colleagues as equals, regardless of their job titles.
pattern: treat someone as an equal
Among the students in her class, Eve had few equals in mathematical ability.
pattern: have few equals
The athlete finally met her equal in the Olympic finals — a runner from Kenya.
pattern: meet one's equal
- no equal
- the equal of
- as an equal
- my/his/her equal
- meet one's equal
- have few equals
- peer
focuses on age or social group rather than ability
- match
emphasises competitive equivalence; 'he met his match'
- counterpart
a person in a similar position in a different organisation
Grammar Patterns
possessive + equal
no + equal
the + equal + of + noun
Usage Note
Often used in the negative structures 'have no equal' or 'without equal' to emphasise that someone/something is the best. Can also be used with possessive pronouns: 'my equal', 'his equal'.
Common Mistakes
❌ 'This product has no equal in the marketplace.' — This is actually correct! But note: 'no equal' is always singular, never 'no equals'.
equal — verb
1. to have the same value, amount, or size as something else — for example, two plu
to have the same value, amount, or size as something else — for example, two plus two equalling four, or a measurement in one unit equalling a specific amount in another unit.
Two plus two equals four — it is one of the first maths facts children learn.
maths formula: X plus Y equals Z
One kilometre equals approximately six-tenths of a mile.
The total cost of the repairs equalled the current market value of the car.
pattern: cost equals value
A single United States dollar currently equals about thirty pesos in the local exchange market.
The amount of water in the tank equals about two hundred litres when full.
pattern: amount equals quantity
- equals the value
- equals the amount
- equals the cost
- X equals Y
Grammar Patterns
X + equals + Y
Usage Note
Unlike the adjective sense ('equal to'), the verb 'equal' does NOT take a preposition. Use 'X equals Y', not 'X equals to Y'. Very common in mathematics, finance, and measurement contexts.
Common Mistakes
2. to reach a level or result that is as good as someone else's — for example, a ru
to reach a level or result that is as good as someone else's — for example, a runner who ties a world record, or a business that performs as well as its main competitor.
The young sprinter equalled the world record in her very first international race.
pattern: equal + a record
No other player in the tournament has equalled his score of one hundred and forty-seven.
The company's third-quarter profits nearly equalled those of its biggest rival in the industry.
pattern: profits equal those of
Camila studied every evening to equal her brother's excellent grades in mathematics.
The new smartphones battery life equals that of the previous model by a narrow margin.
pattern: X equals that of Y
- equal a record
- equal a score
- equal an achievement
- equal a performance
- equal someone's success
- fall short of
not reaching a particular standard or target
Grammar Patterns
X + equals + Y + in + noun
Usage Note
This sense is typically used in competitive or achievement contexts: sports records, academic results, business performance. Often occurs with 'equal + a record/score/achievement'. The past tense is 'equalled' (UK) or 'equaled' (US).
Common Mistakes
3. to produce a particular result or effect — for example, missing a deadline equal
to produce a particular result or effect — for example, missing a deadline equalling the loss of a contract, or a certain number of points equalling a prize.
Missing the deadline for the application equals losing the chance to study abroad.
pattern: [action] equals [consequence]
In this game, collecting a hundred gold coins equals winning a bonus level.
For many families, owning a home equals achieving a sense of long-term security.
In the scoring system, a correct answer equals ten points for the contestant.
Refusing to negotiate in this situation equals accepting the terms they have offered.
pattern: [negative action] equals [unwanted outcome]
- X equals Y (result)
- equals losing
- equals winning
- equals achieving
- means
more versatile and common in everyday English
- amounts to
emphasises the cumulative or net effect
- is equivalent to
more formal, often used in logical arguments
Grammar Patterns
X + equals + Y (outcome)
Usage Note
This sense is often used to explain rules, consequences, or logical implications. It overlaps with verb/1 (SAME VALUE), but verb/3 extends from mathematical equality to logical or situational equivalence. Common in games, business, and everyday reasoning.
Common Mistakes
4. to make something equal, balanced, or uniform with something else — for example,
to make something equal, balanced, or uniform with something else — for example, a late goal equalling the score, or a policy aimed at equalling opportunities.
The striker's goal in the final minute equalled the score at two goals each.
pattern: goal equals the score
The new scholarship programme aims to equal educational opportunities across all regions.
Élise's generous donation helped equal the funds raised by the two competing teams.
pattern: equal + funds/resources
The tax reform was designed to equal the financial burden across different income groups.
- equal the score
- equal the funds
- equal opportunities
- equal the burden
- unbalance
to make uneven or unequal
Grammar Patterns
X + equals + Y (makes Y equal)
Usage Note
This sense is less common than the other verb senses and is often replaced by 'equalize' in modern English, especially in British English. Most frequently encountered in sports contexts ('equalled the score') or formal writing about policy.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- equalitynounB2
- inequalitynounB2
- equalizeverbB2
- equalizationnounC1
- equallyadverbB1
- unequaladjectiveB2
- unequallyadverbB2
- equateverbB2
- equitableadjectiveC1
- equitynounC1
- inequitynounC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/1
These four words all involve things being alike, but they differ in precision and context. 'Identical' is the strictest — it means exactly alike in every detail, down to the last feature. Two identical twins share the same DNA, but two people of equal height are not necessarily identical. 'Equivalent' shifts focus from measurable sameness to functional or value-based equivalence: a five-dollar bill is equivalent to five one-dollar bills, though they are not identical objects. 'Same' is the broadest and most everyday word, used loosely to mean 'not different' — 'we have the same car' could mean two Honda Civics, not the literal vehicle. 'Even' is more specific: it means level or equal along a continuous scale, such as an even distribution of weight or an even score in a game. Use 'equal' for precise measures (equal amounts), 'identical' when every detail matches (identical copies), and 'equivalent' when the result or value is the same even if the form differs. Example: 'These two recipes have equal amounts of sugar, but they are not identical — one uses brown sugar and the other uses honey, though the sweetness is equivalent.'
Common collocations
Nouns
- equal rights
- equal opportunities
- equal pay
- equal treatment
- equal access
- equal share
- equal amount
- equal value
- equal size
- equal status
- equal distribution
- equal division
Adverbs
- roughly equal
- approximately equal
- exactly equal
- nearly equal
- fairly equal
- perfectly equal
- almost equal
- virtually equal
Phrases
- on equal terms
- all things being equal
- equal under the law
- without equal
- no equal
Prepositions
- equal to
- equal in
- equal among
Etymology
The word 'equal' entered English in the late 14th century from Old French 'equal', which came from Latin 'aequālis' meaning 'equal, like, of the same size'. The Latin root 'aequus' carried the sense of 'level, even, flat' — both physically (a level surface) and morally (fair, just). Over time, the physical sense of 'level' extended to mathematical and social equality. The verb form appeared around the same period, and the noun meaning 'a person of equal status' emerged by the early 15th century.