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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PPNJ17qcVg489KA/QpNYFQfpLp835p//V/PtFNkL9ygauJZZfS9V0dGKSM03V4lY
 PSfHov8ACXqboOvO6kBOTQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001193701-03-000001.txt : 20030818
<SEC-HEADER>0001193701-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030818
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030818142207
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001193701-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030814
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030818

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WHITE B JOSEPH
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001193701

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12252
		FILM NUMBER:		03852669

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		315 EAST EISENHOWER PARKWAY
		CITY:			ANN ARBOR
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48108

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EQUITY RESIDENTIAL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000906107
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				363877868
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		EQUITY RESIDENTIAL
		STREET 2:		2 N RIVERSIDE PLAZA, STE 400
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3129281182

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TWO N RIVERSIDE PLAZA
		STREET 2:		SUITE 450
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	EQUITY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES TRUST
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930524
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001193701d20030818f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-14</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000906107</issuerCik><issuerName>EQUITY RESIDENTIAL</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>EQR</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001193701</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>WHITE B JOSEPH</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN BUSINESS SCHOOL</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>701 TAPPAN STREET - D2253</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>ANN ARBOR</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>48109-1234</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelation
ship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3352</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-14</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>627</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>23.39</value></
transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>21124</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>SERP Account</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>14.625</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1997-05-10</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2005-05-10</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>8000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlying
Security><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>8000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>16.375</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1998-05-10</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2006-05-10</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipN
ature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>22.9688</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2000-11-16</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-05-16</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><deriv
ativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>23.375</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-05-17</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-05-17</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>23.55</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><
exerciseDate><value>2003-08-07</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-02-07</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5921</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5921</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>24.625</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2000-05-14</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-05-14</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares o
f Beneficial Interest</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>25.75</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1999-08-04</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-08-04</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sha
resOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>25.865</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-11-15</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-05-15</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10000</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><va
lue>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>27.2</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-01-17</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-01-17</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityValue><value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityValue></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><valueOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5000</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></valueOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Shar
es reported herein are owned by The Security Trust Company, as Trustee of the Equity Residential Supplemental Retirement Plan for the benefit of the Reporting Person.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Share options reported on this line are fully exercisable.</footnote><footnote id="F3">1,974 share options reported herein will become exercisable on February 7, 2004;  1,974 share options will become exercisable on February 7, 2005; and 1,973 share options will become exercisable on February 7, 2006.</footnote><footnote id="F4">6,668 share options reported herein are currently exercisable; and 3,332 share options will become exercisable on May 15, 2003.</footnote><footnote id="F5">3,333 share options reported herein are exercisable; 1,667 will become exercisable on January 17, 2004.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>B. Joseph  White</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-18</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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