evident

adjective

Synonyms of evident
: clear to the vision or understanding
Choose the Right Synonym for evident

evident, manifest, patent, distinct, obvious, apparent, plain, clear mean readily perceived or apprehended.

evident implies presence of visible signs that lead one to a definite conclusion.

an evident fondness for sweets

manifest implies an external display so evident that little or no inference is required.

manifest hostility

patent applies to a cause, effect, or significant feature that is clear and unmistakable once attention has been directed to it.

patent defects

distinct implies such sharpness of outline or definition that no unusual effort to see or hear or comprehend is required.

a distinct refusal

obvious implies such ease in discovering that it often suggests conspicuousness or little need for perspicacity in the observer.

the obvious solution

apparent is very close to evident except that it may imply more conscious exercise of inference.

for no apparent reason

plain suggests lack of intricacy, complexity, or elaboration.

her feelings about him are plain

clear implies an absence of anything that confuses the mind or obscures the pattern.

a clear explanation

Examples of evident in a Sentence

She spoke with evident anguish about the death of her son. The problems have been evident for quite some time.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Investor appetite for ambitious technology bets also became evident in June, when SpaceX raised $75 billion in the largest IPO ever and began trading on June 12. — Deena Zaidi,sean Conlon, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026 His actions echoed in subsequent generations, evident in other Europeans’ efforts to spread Christianity in the Americas. — Peter C. Mancall, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2026 The civility of the evening was evident to former Sacramento City Councilmember Jay Schenirer, who has been a member of Congregation B’nai Israel for more than 40 years. — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 6 Oct. 2026 That same use of color was highly evident in Christian Siriano’s fall 2025 ready-to-wear collection. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for evident

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin evident-, evidens, from e- + vident-, videns, present participle of vidēre to see — more at wit

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of evident was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Evident.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/evident. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

evident

adjective
: clear to the sight or mind : plain
was evident that they were twins
Etymology

Middle English evident "clearly seen or understood," from early French evident (same meaning), from Latin evident-, evidens (same meaning), from e-, ex- "out, away" and vident-, videns, a form of vidēre "to see" — related to vision

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