evident
/ˈɛv.ɪ.dənt/Easy to see or understand; clearly true or noticeable. When something is evident, people can see it or recognize it without any doubt.
- The damage to the bridge was evident even from a distance.
- Her excitement was evident from the wide smile on her face.
- It is evident that regular practice improves language skills.
Adinary Nuance
"Evident" belongs to a cluster of near-neighbors: "obvious," "apparent," "clear," and "plain." In academic and IELTS writing, "evident" sounds more precise and formal than "obvious," which can come across as blunt or even condescending — as if the reader should have noticed already. "Apparent" is a close but tricky neighbor: it can carry a subtle doubt, meaning "seeming to be true but possibly not," whereas "evident" is more definitive and backed by visible proof. When you want to say something is clearly supported by evidence, especially in a formal essay, "evident" is the stronger and safer choice over "obvious."
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- Rõ ràng
- Spanish
- Evidente
- Chinese
- 明显的
- Japanese
- 明らかな
- Korean
- 명백한
Etymology
From Latin "evidens" (clear, visible), built from "e-" (out) + "videre" (to see). It entered English in the late 14th century through Old French, keeping its original sense of something that stands plainly in sight.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is 'evident' formal or informal?
- 'Evident' is formal. It is commonly used in academic essays, reports, and IELTS writing. In everyday spoken English, people more often say 'clear' or 'obvious' instead.
- What is the difference between 'evident' and 'obvious'?
- Both mean easy to see or understand, but 'evident' is more formal and neutral — it suggests something is supported by visible proof. 'Obvious' can sound blunt or imply the listener should have known already.
- What is the difference between 'evident' and 'apparent'?
- 'Evident' means something is clearly and definitely true. 'Apparent' can suggest it only seems true on the surface but may not be — for example, 'an apparent solution' might turn out to be wrong.
- Can I use 'evident' in IELTS writing?
- Yes, absolutely. 'It is evident that...' is a strong, academic-sounding phrase for IELTS Task 2. It signals a well-supported conclusion and is preferred over 'it is obvious that' in formal writing.