even out

make something more equal or balanced

B2

What does "even sth out" mean?

Something that evens out gradually becomes more equal or balanced over time — without anyone necessarily doing anything to cause it. For example, prices, scores, or opportunities that start off unequal may naturally even out as conditions change. The phrasal verb is also used transitively, when someone actively makes things more equal by redistributing tasks, costs, or resources. A key feature of this meaning is the sense of a gradual process rather than an instant change — it often appears with time expressions like 'over time', 'eventually', or 'in the long run'. It's equally at home in everyday conversation and in more formal contexts such as business, economics, or education.

Examples

How to use it

subject + even out (intransitive)

Used when something naturally becomes more balanced over time, with no object needed.

The differences in performance tend to even out after the first few months.

even out + object

Used when someone actively makes something more equal by distributing it differently.

The manager decided to even out the workload so nobody was overwhelmed.

even + pronoun + out

When the object is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and the particle.

The costs looked unbalanced at first, but we evened them out before the final budget.

object + be evened out

The passive is natural in written or formal contexts when the focus is on the result rather than who caused it.

Funding was evened out across all regional offices following the review.

tend to / will / help + even out

Often used with modal or semi-modal verbs to express prediction or reassurance about a gradual process.

Don't panic about the early figures — prices will even out once supply catches up.

Common Collocations

differences even outprices even outthe workloadcosts even outover timethe playing field

Common Mistakes

Pronoun placement

When the object is a pronoun, it must go between 'even' and 'out', not after 'out'.

✗ We need to even out it before the deadline.
✓ We need to even it out before the deadline.
Confusing 'even out' with 'iron out'

'Iron out' means to resolve a specific problem or disagreement, while 'even out' means to make something more equal or balanced. Using 'even out' to talk about fixing a dispute sounds unnatural.

✗ We need to even out the disagreement between the two departments.
✓ We need to iron out the disagreement between the two departments.
Using the present continuous

'Even out' describes a gradual process or general truth, so the present continuous sounds forced. Use the simple present or 'will + even out' for predictions instead.

✗ Things are evening out slowly this quarter.
✓ Things even out slowly over time. / Things will even out eventually.

Usage

This phrasal verb is equally common in spoken and written English and suits both formal and informal situations. The intransitive form ('things will even out') is very natural and frequently used to reassure someone that a situation will improve or become fairer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can 'even out' refer to physical things, or is it only used for abstract ideas?

It can be used for both. While it's very common in abstract contexts like costs, opportunities, or scores, it can also refer to physical surfaces or distributions — for example, evening out a layer of soil in a garden. The core idea of smoothing or balancing applies in both cases.

Does 'even out' always suggest a slow, gradual process?

Yes, this is an important feature of the meaning. 'Even out' typically implies something happening gradually over time, which is why it often appears with expressions like 'in the long run' or 'eventually'. If you want to describe an instant equalisation — like levelling a score in a game — 'even up' is more natural.

What kinds of things can 'even out' as a subject?

A wide range of things can even out: prices, costs, incomes, scores, opportunities, performance levels, and workloads are all very natural subjects. Generally, anything that can be unequal or variable and then gradually become more balanced works well with this phrasal verb.

Can I use 'even out' to reassure someone that a situation will improve?

Yes, and this is actually one of its most common everyday uses. Saying something like 'It will all even out in the end' is a natural and reassuring way to tell someone that a currently unfair or unbalanced situation will become more equal over time.

Is 'even out' used differently in business or academic writing compared to everyday speech?

The meaning stays the same, but the passive form — for example, 'costs were evened out across departments' — is more common in formal or written contexts. In everyday speech, the intransitive form ('things will even out') is particularly frequent and feels very natural.

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