# unevenly

**Pronunciation:** /ʌnˈiːvənli/ · uhn-EE-vuhn-lee

**CEFR level:** B1

**Part of speech:** adverb

## Meaning

In a manner that is not level, smooth, or consistent; not equally distributed or balanced.

## Examples

- The old road was paved unevenly, making the car ride quite bumpy.
- She spread the frosting unevenly on the cake, leaving some parts bare.
- The light fell unevenly across the stage, creating strong shadows in certain areas.

## Synonyms

- irregularly — Suggests a lack of pattern or order.
- disproportionately — Implies an imbalance in size, amount, or degree.
- inconsistently — Highlights a lack of uniformity over time or across different parts.
- erratically — Conveys unpredictability and a lack of steady movement or behavior.

## Antonyms

- evenly — In a level, smooth, or consistent way.
- uniformly — In the same way in all parts or at all times.

## Common patterns

- unevenly distributed — Not spread out equally. — Wealth is often unevenly distributed in society.
- unevenly balanced — Not in a stable or equal state. — The scales were unevenly balanced, favoring one side.
- unevenly paved — Having a surface that is not smooth or level. — Walking on the unevenly paved path was difficult.

## Collocations

- spread unevenly — The paint was spread unevenly, creating streaks on the wall.
- distributed unevenly — Resources were distributed unevenly across the region, causing disparities.
- cut unevenly — Her hair was cut unevenly, requiring a trip back to the salon.

Canonical URL: https://anaversity.com/dictionary/english/unevenly

[Browse the English learner dictionary](https://anaversity.com/dictionary/english)