equally

equally — adverb

1. in a way that gives the same rights, opportunities, or treatment to every person

1.adverbB1
Definition

in a way that gives the same rights, opportunities, or treatment to every person or group, without favouring any of them

Example

The school treats all students equally, regardless of their family background.

treat + equally for fairness

Adaeze believes household chores should be shared equally between everyone living in the flat.

Common collocations
  • treat equally
  • share equally
  • distribute equally
  • divide equally
  • apply equally
Synonyms
  • fairly

    focuses on justice and lack of bias; slightly more common in everyday speech

  • evenly

    stresses balance in distribution; often used for physical quantities

  • impartially

    formal; emphasises absence of prejudice, especially in legal or official contexts

Antonyms
  • unequally

    in a way that treats people or groups differently, often unfairly

  • unfairly

    with bias or injustice

Grammar Patterns

treat/divide/share + equally

Common Mistakes

The law applies equal to everyone.
The law applies equally to everyone.
'equally' is the adverb form needed to modify a verb; 'equal' is an adjective.

2. in amounts or parts that are exactly the same size, number, or value as one anot

2.adverbB1
Definition

in amounts or parts that are exactly the same size, number, or value as one another

Example

The three cousins split the inheritance equally into three separate portions.

split + equally (among people)

Min and Nikhil contributed equally to the cost of the birthday gift for their teacher.

Common collocations
  • split equally
  • divide equally
  • spread equally
  • share equally
  • equally among/between
Synonyms
  • evenly

    interchangeable in many contexts, especially for physical distribution

  • fifty-fifty

    informal; only used for two parties

  • in equal measure

    slightly more formal; often used in abstract contexts

Antonyms
  • unevenly

    in amounts that are not the same

Grammar Patterns

divide/spread/split + equally (among/between)

Usage Note

Commonly followed by the prepositions 'among', 'between', or 'across' to specify the people or groups involved.

3. at the same level or by the same amount when two or more things are compared

3.adverbB1
Definition

at the same level or by the same amount when two or more things are compared

Example

Nikhil is equally skilled at the guitar and the piano, though he prefers the guitar.

equally + adjective (skilled)

Both sides of the island were equally damaged by the typhoon last autumn.

Common collocations
  • equally important
  • equally likely
  • equally difficult
  • equally skilled
  • equally affected
Synonyms
  • just as

    common in everyday speech; always paired with 'as' (e.g. just as good as)

  • alike

    used after the verb or at the end of a clause (e.g. They are alike in ability)

  • comparably

    formal; used in academic or analytical writing

Antonyms
  • differently

    in a way that is not the same in degree or quality

Grammar Patterns

equally + adjective

be + equally + past participle + by

Usage Note

Often appears in the pattern 'equally + adjective (e.g. important, difficult, likely)' to compare two things on a particular quality. The thing being compared can be introduced by 'as' (e.g. 'equally as important as…').

Common Mistakes

This book is equally as good as that one.
This book is as good as that one.' or 'Both books are equally good.
'equally as' is considered redundant by many style guides, though it is common in speech.

4. used at the beginning of a sentence or clause to introduce a second point that i

4.adverbB2
Definition

used at the beginning of a sentence or clause to introduce a second point that is just as significant as the one just mentioned

Example

The new system saves time. Equally, it reduces the number of mistakes made by staff.

sentence-initial 'Equally' for adding parallel point

The apartment is near the station. Equally important, the rent is within a young family's budget.

Common collocations
  • equally important (that)
  • Equally, ...
  • but equally
Synonyms
  • likewise

    slightly more formal; also used in academic writing

  • similarly

    focuses on resemblance between two points rather than equal importance

  • at the same time

    less formal; works in both speech and writing

Grammar Patterns

Equally, + main clause

equally + adjective + be that-clause

Usage Note

Unlike the other senses, this sense does not modify a single word. It connects two ideas at the level of the sentence or paragraph. It is most common in formal written English — in conversation, speakers usually prefer 'also', 'as well', or 'at the same time'.

Common Mistakes

It is cold outside. Equally, bring a jacket.
It is cold outside. Equally, we should bring warm clothes.
'Equally' must link two statements of comparable weight, not a reason and a command.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four words describe treating people without bias, but they differ in scope and connotation. 'Fairly' is the most general and everyday term — it covers any situation where outcomes or treatment are reasonable and just (e.g. 'The referee judged the match fairly.'). 'Evenly' leans toward physical distribution and measurable balance ('The wealth was spread evenly.'). 'Impartially' is far more formal and specific to situations where personal feelings must not influence a decision, such as a judge or an interviewer ('A jury must weigh the evidence impartially.'). 'Justly' carries a moral weight — it implies that the treatment is not only fair but morally right ('The prisoners were justly sentenced.'). For everyday contexts of equal treatment, 'fairly' is the safest choice; for formal or legal writing, 'impartially' fits better.

fairly ↗evenly ↗impartiallyjustly

Common collocations

Nouns

  • equally important
  • equally likely
  • equally responsible
  • equally valid

Adverbs

  • almost equally
  • roughly equally
  • fairly equally
  • exactly equally

Phrases

  • equally as
  • shared equally
  • divided equally
  • treated equally

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Formed in late Middle English by adding the suffix '-ly' (which turns adjectives into adverbs) to the adjective 'equal'. 'Equal' itself comes from Latin 'aequalis', meaning 'like, equal, even', which is based on 'aequus', meaning 'level, flat, just'. The sense of 'adding an equally important point' (sense 4) developed later, in formal written English of the 19th century.