-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
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,
 K0P8Stf9OTO7S3mgIoPK0uUxgMJ6QUFp7ZticY7kf808woKXmss+QmsFWDQjqsYz
 7y/b6req+PhfIdD83kYXQA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001237519-03-000001.txt : 20030903
<SEC-HEADER>0001237519-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030903
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030903165910
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001237519-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030903
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030903

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:		3129281178

	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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COUVILLION J DONALD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001237519

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12252
		FILM NUMBER:		03879634

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		EQUITY RESIDENTIAL
		STREET 2:		6991 E CAMELBACK ROAD SUITE D220
		CITY:			SCOTTSDALE
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85251
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4808747318
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001237519d20030903f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-03</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000906107</issuerCik><issuerName>EQUITY RESIDENTIAL</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>EQR</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001237519</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>COUVILLION J DONALD</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>6991 EAST CAMELBACK ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE D220</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>SCOTTSDALE</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>AZ</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>85251</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
></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-03</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3730</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>20.0938</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>23805</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwner
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</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>2773</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2773</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></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><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>23.55</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-02-07</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-02-07</value></expirationDate><underly
ingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>40571</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>40571</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>25.0625</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2000-12-23</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-12-23</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>26750</value></underlyingSec
urityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>26750</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></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>20000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>20000</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTran
sactionAmounts><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>14508</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>14508</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>27.2</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>36767</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>36767</value><footnoteId id="F7"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Shares reported 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">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">Shares reported herein are indireclty owned by Mr. Couvillion and his spouse in joint tenancy.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Share options reported on this line are fully exercisable.</footnote><footnote id="F5">13,523 share options reported herein will become exercisable on February 7, 2004; 13,524 share options will become exercisable on February 7, 2005; and 13,524 share options will become exercisable on February 7, 2006.</footnote><footnote id="F6">9,672 share options reported on this line are exercisable; and 4,836 share options will become exercisable on January 18, 2004.</footnote><footnote id="F7">12,255 share op
tions reported on this are currently exercisable; 12,256 share options will vest on January 16, 2004; and 12,255 share options will vest on January 16, 2005.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>J. Donald  Couvillion</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-03</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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