Even sth up Meaning, Examples & How to Use in English

What Does “Even sth up” Mean?

“Even sth up” means to make something equal or level, especially after it has become uneven or unbalanced.

Introduction

The phrasal verb “even sth up” is commonly used when referring to balancing or making things fair, equal, or level. The “sth” in the phrase stands for “something.” For example, you might “even up” a pile of papers, a score in a game, or debts between friends. The even sth up meaning revolves around restoring balance, fairness, or equality in various situations. This phrase is useful in both everyday conversations and formal contexts, making it a versatile expression to know.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: even something up
• Type: transitive
• Level: B1 (Intermediate)
• Short meaning: to make something equal, level, or balanced

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Even sth up” is a separable phrasal verb. You can place the object “something” either between “even” and “up” or after “up.”

• even + object + up (e.g., even the score up)
• even up + object (less common but possible, e.g., even up the piles)

Most commonly, the object goes between “even” and “up.”

How to Use “Even sth up”?

You use “even sth up” when you want to describe making something equal or balanced. It can apply to physical things like surfaces or stacks, or abstract things such as scores, debts, or chances. The phrase often appears in contexts related to fairness or balance.

Examples

Imagine two friends keeping track of their debts. One friend might say:

• “Let’s even up what I owe you this month.”
• “Can you even up the piles of books on the table?”
• “The team managed to even the score up in the last minute.”
• “I need to even up the edges of this wooden board before painting.”
• “They tried to even up the chances for all participants.”

Here, “even sth up in a sentence” shows how the phrase fits naturally in different situations.

Common Mistakes

Sometimes learners confuse “even sth up” with other phrasal verbs or use it incorrectly by placing the object wrongly.

• Incorrect: “Even up the score.”
• Correct: “Even the score up.”
• Incorrect: “We need to even debts.”
• Correct: “We need to even up the debts.”

Remember, the object usually comes between “even” and “up.”

Differences / Synonyms

Several phrasal verbs are similar to “even sth up,” like “balance out,” “make even,” or “level off.” However, “even sth up” specifically emphasizes bringing something to a state of equality or fairness.

• Balance out: Often used for numbers or effects coming into equilibrium.
• Make even: More general, can mean smoothing or leveling.
• Level off: Usually describes something stopping its rise or fall and becoming stable.

For example, “even the score up” means to make the game fair, while “balance out expenses” focuses more on matching amounts.

Common Collocations

“Even sth up” is often used with these common objects:

• Score: to make points equal in a game
• Debts: to settle money owed fairly
• Piles: to level stacks or heaps
• Edges: to make surfaces straight or level
• Chances: to make opportunities equal

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of even sth up:

• Even Sth Out

Real-life Dialogue

Here’s a short conversation using “even sth up”:

Anna: The score is 3-1. Can we even the score up before halftime?

Ben: Sure! Let’s try to score quickly.

Anna: Also, can you even up those piles of papers on the desk? They look messy.

Ben: I’m on it!

Practice

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “even sth up”:

• We need to __________ the debts before the end of the month.
• Can you __________ the edges of this table?
• The team managed to __________ the score in the last minute.
• Let’s __________ the piles of clothes before putting them away.

FAQs

• What does “even sth up” mean? It means to make something equal, level, or balanced.
• Is “even sth up” separable? Yes, the object usually goes between “even” and “up.”
• Can “even sth up” be used for numbers? Yes, it’s often used to describe balancing scores, debts, or chances.
• What are some synonyms of “even sth up”? Balance out, make even, and level off are similar phrases.
• Is “even up” the same as “level up”? No, “level up” usually means to improve or increase levels, while “even up” means to make equal.