-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NFBEWkHjs/hCxXZ9l15jlH3j3+nVIZj9E2V68ShD17FJOZCi+F8camSGik82xYCg
 rL8wTre6rpkUVUuHH6e60Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001219719-03-000001.txt : 20030819
<SEC-HEADER>0001219719-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030819
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030819155627
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001219719-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030815
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030819

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCHUGH MICHAEL J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001219719

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12252
		FILM NUMBER:		03855804

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O EQUITY RESIDENTIAL
		STREET 2:		2 N RIVERSIDE PLAZA STE 400
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3129281259

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>c0001219719d20030819f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-15</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000906107</issuerCik><issuerName>EQUITY RESIDENTIAL</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>EQR</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001219719</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>MCHUGH MICHAEL J</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>TWO NORTH RIVERSIDE PLAZA, SUITE 400</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>60606</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></r
eportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-15</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>21.0625</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>53135</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnershi
p></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-15</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>28.5212</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>43135</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></nat
ureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>43060</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>SERP Account</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>21.0625</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-15</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmount
s><transactionShares><value>10000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>28.5212</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2001-01-24</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-01-24</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>13738</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><convers
ionOrExercisePrice><value>23.55</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-02-07</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-02-07</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>35526</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>35526</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></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>25.3438</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-01-07</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-01-07</value></expirationD
ate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>30000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>30000</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>25.844</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-01-18</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-01-18</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>21276</value></un
derlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>21276</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></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>27.2</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-01-16</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-01-16</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>27115</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>27115</value><footnoteId id="F6"/></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>27.6</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-07-11</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-07-11</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>50000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>50000</value><footnoteId id="F7"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNa
ture></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Shares reported on this line are owned directly and some of the shares are subject to vesting.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Shares 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="F3">Share options reported on this line are fully exercisable.</footnote><footnote id="F4">11,842 share options reported herein will become exercisable on February 7, 2004; 11,842 share options will become exercisable on February 7, 2005; 11,842 share options will become exercisable on February 7, 2006.</footnote><footnote id="F5">14,184 share options reported herein are currently exercisable; and 7,092 share options will become exercisable on January 18, 2004.</footnote><footnote id="F6">9,038 share options reported herein are currently exercisable; 9,038 share options are scheduled to vest on January 16, 2004; and 9,039 sha
re options are scheduled to vest on January 16, 2005.</footnote><footnote id="F7">One-third of the share options reported on this line are exercisable; one-third will become exercisable on July 11, 2003; and one-third will become exercisable on July 11, 2004.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Michael J McHugh</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-19</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----