every

everydeterminer

American /ˈɛv.ri/ British /ˈev.ri/ also /ˈɛv.ə.ri/ a fuller, three-syllable form heard in careful or slow speech

very commondefining vocabulary

each oneused before a singular noun to mean all the members of a group, with no exception, especially when the group is large or general
Every treats a group as a series with no gaps: every day means each day without exception. It is common with time words (every morning, every year) and with numbers to show how often something happens (every third day). It is never followed directly by of; for that meaning use every one of or each of.
- She calls her mother every day.
- Every seat in the theater was full.
- Every third house on the street was for sale.
- Not every student passed the test.
Collocations
phrase every day, every time, every year, every single, every other
Compare each (each looks at the members one at a time and works for as few as two; every treats the group as a whole and usually implies three or more)

Phrases

every other

used before a singular noun to mean this one, then not the next one, then this one again, and so on

I go to the gym every other day.

every now and then

sometimes, but not often or regularly

We still meet for coffee every now and then.

Word family

everybody
everyone
everything
everywhere
everyday

Usage

Every is grammatically singular and takes a singular verb: Every seat was full, not were full.

Common mistakes

Every students like the teacher. Every student likes the teacher.
Every is followed by a singular noun and a singular verb.

Every of the rooms was clean. Every one of the rooms was clean.
Every is not followed directly by of; use every one of instead.

For translators

Grammar trap Every takes a singular noun and a singular verb even though it refers to a whole group; it is never followed directly by of — use every one of.

Pronunciation trap Said as two syllables in ordinary speech, EV-ree, even though it is spelled with three.