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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 N/VPZ3tBrBCGvLEDe+sAL3uKtnDHsmSY+mA/zvQ89J5Q+NdExQEhaQn/kpjnaHXD
 rZu89kTPYRXj/GJMCLnWpQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001237520-03-000001.txt : 20030818
<SEC-HEADER>0001237520-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030818
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030818141347
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001237520-03-000001
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:			ALEXANDER JOHN W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001237520

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12252
		FILM NUMBER:		03852628

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MALLARD CREEK CAPITAL PART
		STREET 2:		5955 CARNEGIE BLVD
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28209
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7043350800

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>c0001237520d20030818f4f.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>0001237520</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>ALEXANDER JOHN W</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>MALLARD CREEK CAPITAL PARTNERS</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>5955 CARNEGIE BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>CHARLOTTE</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>28209</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></report
ingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>35405</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>881</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>23.39</value></transactionP
ricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>18686</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>16.375</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1999-05-10</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><p
ostTransactionAmounts><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>17.4375</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1997-05-12</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2004-05-12</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><di
rectOrIndirectOwnership><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><derivativeHold
ing><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><exerciseD
ate><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 of Benefic
ial 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>2000-08-04</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><sharesOwnedF
ollowingTransaction><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><value>D</va
lue></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>11838</value></underlyingSecurityValue></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><valueOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>11838</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></valueOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Shares repo
rted herein are owned by The Security Trust Company, as Trustee of the Equity Residential Properties Trust Supplemental Retirement Plan for the benefit of the Reporting Person and were acquired through Equity Residential Properties Trust's Employee Share Purchase Plan.</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">7,892 share options reported herein are exercisable; 3,946 will become exercisable on January 17, 2004.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>John W Alexander</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-18</signatureDate></ownerS
ignature></ownershipDocument>

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