unevenly

unevenly — adverb

1. in a manner where things are not spread at the same level or amount, or where a

1.adverbB2
Definition

in a manner where things are not spread at the same level or amount, or where a surface does not stay flat and regular

Example

The table legs were cut unevenly, making the surface wobble when Minh leaned on it.

unevenly + past participle (cut unevenly)

Donation money was distributed unevenly among the three schools; one received far more than the others.

distributed unevenly — allocation collocation

Common collocations
  • distributed unevenly
  • spread unevenly
  • cut unevenly
  • spaced unevenly
  • heated unevenly
  • applied unevenly
  • divided unevenly
  • spread unevenly across
Synonyms
  • irregularly

    focuses on a lack of pattern or predictable shape rather than on inequality of amount

  • unequally

    specifically emphasises differences in quantity or degree, not physical flatness

Antonyms
  • evenly

    the direct opposite; means in an equal, flat, or regular manner

Grammar Patterns

verb + unevenly

unevenly + past participle (e.g. unevenly distributed)

Usage Note

Frequently pairs with past participles of verbs describing distribution, cutting, heating, or spreading (distributed unevenly, cut unevenly, heated unevenly). The adverb typically appears right before the past participle or at the end of the clause.

Common Mistakes

The food was unevenly.
The food was unevenly distributed.
unevenly is an adverb and must modify a verb or adjective; it cannot stand alone as a complement.
The ground felt unevenly.
The ground felt uneven.
to describe a surface, use the adjective uneven, not the adverb unevenly.

2. with changes in quality over time or from one part to another, so that some part

2.adverbB2
Definition

with changes in quality over time or from one part to another, so that some parts or moments are much better than others

Example

The band played unevenly, delivering a stunning opening but losing energy by the middle.

played unevenly — performance quality pattern

Gabriel thought the film was unevenly paced, mixing slow scenes with frantic action.

unevenly paced — creative/critical judgment

Common collocations
  • played unevenly
  • paced unevenly
  • written unevenly
  • progressed unevenly
  • performed unevenly
  • acted unevenly
Synonyms
  • inconsistently

    more general, can apply to any fluctuating behaviour or quality

  • patchily

    informal; suggests good parts mixed with weak parts

Antonyms
  • consistently

    the opposite of varying in quality; means maintaining the same standard

  • steadily

    suggests a smooth, reliable level of performance or quality

Grammar Patterns

verb + unevenly

unevenly + past participle

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 focuses on physical or measurable inequality (quantity, surface, distribution); sense 2 concerns the quality or standard of something changing unpredictably. Common with verbs of performance, evaluation, or progression (play, perform, write, pace, progress).

Common Mistakes

The team played unevenly all season — they won every single game.
The team played unevenly all season
they won some games easily but lost others badly.' — unevenly playing means the quality of performance changed from game to game, not that the team was consistently good.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four words describe a lack of uniformity, but they differ in what kind of uniformity is missing. Unevenly is the broadest — it can describe surfaces, distribution, or quality. Irregularly emphasises the absence of a predictable pattern or rhythm (e.g., irregularly shaped stones) rather than inequality of amount. Unequally is narrower, focusing specifically on differences in quantity or degree — for example, unequally shared profits implies a numerical imbalance, while unevenly shared profits could also mean a messy or non-standard split. Asymmetrically belongs to more technical registers (design, biology, mathematics) and describes a mirrored correspondence that does not match. In everyday conversation, unevenly is the safest choice for most contexts.

unevenly ↗irregularlyunequallyasymmetrically

Common collocations

Nouns

  • uneven distribution
  • uneven surface
  • uneven quality

Adverbs

  • very unevenly
  • somewhat unevenly
  • slightly unevenly
  • extremely unevenly
  • noticeably unevenly

Phrases

  • cut unevenly
  • distribute unevenly
  • spread unevenly
  • apply unevenly
  • heat unevenly

Prepositions

  • unevenly across
  • unevenly among
  • unevenly between
  • unevenly throughout

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Formed by adding the adverbial suffix -ly to the adjective uneven, which comes from Old English unefen (un- 'not' + efen 'level, equal, flat'). The base word even has Germanic roots and is related to Dutch even and German eben. The sense of 'inconsistent quality' developed from the physical meaning of 'not level' through metaphorical extension.