eve
/iːv/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: eves
Sense 1
Meaning · English
The day or night before, usually used for holidays, such as Christmas Eve.
Noun
Examples
She died on the eve of her 100th birthday.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
The period of time when something is just about to happen or to be introduced
Noun
Examples
the eve of a scientific discovery
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “eve” mean?
The day or night before, usually used for holidays, such as Christmas Eve.
Is “eve” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.