ever

Universal Words adverb 1 used in negative sentences and questions, or sentences with if to mean 'at any time': Nothing ever happens here. * Don't you ever get tired? * If you're ever in Miami, come and see us. * 'Have you ever thought of changing your job?' 'No, never / No I haven't.' * 'Have you ever been to Rome?' 'Yes, I have, actually. Not long ago.' * She hardly ever (= almost never) goes out. * We see them very seldom, if ever. * (informal) I'll never ever do that again! 2 used for emphasis when you are comparing things: It was raining harder than ever. * It's my best ever score. 3 (rather formal) all the time or every time; always: Paul, ever the optimist, agreed to try again. * She married the prince and they lived happily ever after. * He said he would love her for ever. * Their debts grew ever larger (= kept increasing). * the ever-growing problem * an ever-present danger 4 used after when, why, etc. to show that you are surprised or shocked: Why ever did you agree? IDIOMS did you ever (...)! (old-fashioned, informal) used to show that you are surprised or shocked: Did you ever hear anything like it? ever since (...) continuously since the time mentioned: He's had a car ever since he was 18. * I was bitten by a dog once and I've been afraid of them ever since. ever so / ever such a (spoken, especially BrE) very; really: He looks ever so smart. * She's ever such a nice woman. * It's ever so easy. if ever there was (one) (spoken) used to emphasize that sth is certainly true: That was a disaster if ever there was one! yours ever / ever yours sometimes used at the end of an informal letter, before you write your name