evident

adjective

ev·​i·​dent ˈe-və-dənt 

-və-ˌdent

: clear to the vision or understanding

Synonyms

• apparent
• assumed
• ostensible
• ostensive
• presumed
• prima facie
• putative
• reputed
• seeming
• supposed

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

Acidity dominants, as with many 2024 Bordeaux wines, but complexity is evident in this light juice with fine flavors of young red fruit. —Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025

Toxic takeover completed a few months before, the Glazer brothers — Joel, Avie and Bryan — were attending their first match at Old Trafford as owners of Manchester United and a new way of thinking was evident. —Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 11 May 2025

Silken nests are evident located in crotches of these trees. —Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 10 May 2025

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch gave Randle a quick hook, sending the forward to the bench for the next two minutes of action, much to Randle’s dismay — which was evident in the veteran’s body language. —Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 10 May 2025

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

Phrases Containing evident

• self-evident

Kids Definition

evident

adjective

ev·​i·​dent ˈev-əd-ənt 

-ə-ˌdent

: 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