equal

I UK [ˈiːkwəl] / US [ˈɪkwəl] adjective ***

1) the same in value, amount, or size

All the workers have an equal share in the profits.

of equal value/size/quality etc:

His wife was doing work of equal importance.

equal in value/size/quality etc:

An extension, equal in height to the main building, was added later.

equal to:

They receive an income equal to the value of the goods they produce.

roughly/approximately equal:

Roughly equal numbers of men and women enrol each year.

2)

a) having or deserving the same rights and opportunities as other people

He believed that all men and women were equal.

They are equal partners in every aspect of their lives.

b) [usually before noun] giving people the same rights and opportunities

Men and women should receive equal pay for equal work.

Everyone should have equal access to healthcare services.

equal rights:

He supported equal rights for all citizens.

3) an equal game, fight, election, or competition is between people or groups that have the same ability

•

all/other things being equal — if things stay as expected, or if there are no special facts to consider

All things being equal, we should get there by the evening.

Other things being equal, the job would be given to a woman.

- equal to

- in equal measure

- on an equal footing

- some are more equal than others

- something is equal to something

II UK [ˈiːkwəl] / US [ˈɪkwəl] verb [transitive]
Word forms "equal":
present tense I/you/we/they equal he/she/it equals present participle equalling past tense equalled past participle equalled
*

1)

a) to be the same in value or amount as something else

Five plus three equals eight.

This is the point where total cost equals total revenue.

b) to have the same effect or result as something

Increased population equals increased demand.

2)

a) [often passive] to achieve the same standard or level of ability as someone else

He did everything with a style that I have never seen equalled.

She equalled the record with a time of 27.69 seconds.

b) to be as good or large as something else

His personal vanity was equalled only by his fear of failure.

III UK [ˈiːkwəl] / US [ˈɪkwəl] noun [countable]
Word forms "equal":
singular equal plural equals

someone or something that has the same value, rights, or importance as another person or thing, or that deserves the same respect

I consider her my equal.

It's time we were treated as equals.

equal of:

Our training was the equal of that provided in Germany.

•

- be without equal