unevenly

Unevenly is an adverb describing the manner in which something is not even or not evenly distributed. It is used to describe action, distribution, or characteristics that vary in height, intensity, spacing, or timing. For example, the light on the stage was unevenly distributed, the paint on the wall was applied unevenly, and traffic flow during peak hours moved unevenly. In statistics or geography, data or populations may be described as being unevenly distributed when values cluster in some areas while being sparse in others. In music or rhythm, a performer may count beats unevenly, producing an irregular tempo.

Etymology: Unevenly is formed from the adjective uneven, plus the adverb suffix -ly. The base adjective uneven comes from Old English and is related to the sense of not being level or equal; the adverb simply marks that the following verb or adjective applies in an irregular manner.

Usage notes: Unevenly tends to emphasize spatial irregularity or irregular progression, rather than a simple binary distinction between even and odd. It is often used where "irregularly" would also be correct, but with a nuance of nonuniform distribution or surface texture rather than frequency or pattern alone.

See also: uneven, irregular, nonuniform, asymmetrical, irregularity, unevenness.