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.
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As a group, HQ Portfolio stocks delivered superior returns with less risk compared to the benchmark index; less of a roller-coaster experience, as evident in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025 His contrition and regret were evident both through his words and his body language.—Luke Smith, New York Times, 16 June 2025 This was especially evident this year by the numerous automakers participating in the three classes—Hypercar, LMP2, and LMGT3.—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 16 June 2025 This all-consuming passion was evident in every corner of his day, even when he was preoccupied with something else.—Pete Born, Footwear News, 15 June 2025 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
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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