Very is used to give emphasis to an adjective or adverb.
[emphasis]
The problem and the answer are very simple.
It is very, very strong evidence indeed.
I'm very sorry.
They are getting the hang of it very quickly.
Thank you very much.
The men were very much like my father.
2.
See not very
3. adverb [ADVERB adjective]
You use very to give emphasis to an adjective that is not usually graded, when you want to say that a quality is very obvious.
[emphasis]
Janet looked very pregnant.
His taste strikes the English as very French.
If you think I'm happy with what's left, you're very wrong.
4. adverb
You use very to give emphasis to a superlative adjective or adverb. For example, if you say that something is the very best, you are emphasizing that it is the best.
[emphasis]
They will be helped by the very latest in navigation aids.
I am feeling in the very best of spirits.
At the very least, the Government must offer some protection to mothers who feardomestic violence.
5. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
You use very with certain nouns in order to specify an extreme position or extreme point in time.
[emphasis]
At the very back of the yard, several feet from Lenny, was a wooden shack.
I turned to the very end of the book, to read the final words.
...the Tuileries, in the very heart of Paris.
He was wrong from the very beginning.
We still do not have enough women at the very top.
6. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
You use very with nouns to emphasize that something is exactly the right one or exactly the same one.
[emphasis]
Everybody says he is the very man for the case.
She died in this very house.
In my view, it only perpetuates the very problem that it sets out to cure.
'Most secret', he called it. Those were his very words.
Synonyms: exact, actual, precise, same More Synonyms of very
7. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
You use very with nouns to emphasize the importance or seriousness of what you are saying.
[emphasis]
At one stage, his very life was in danger.
This act undermines the very basis of our democracy.
He stated that such programmes were by their very nature harmful.
History is taking place before your very eyes.
8.
See very good
9.
See very much so
10.
See very well
11.
See cannot very well do
usage note: Very, so, and too can all be used to intensify the meaning of an adjective, an adverb, or a word likemuch or many. However, they are not used in the same way. Very is the simplest intensifier. It has no other meaning beyond that. So can suggest an emotional reaction on the part of the speaker, such as pleasure, surprise,or disappointment. John makes me so angry!.. Oh thank you so much!So can also refer forward to a result clause introduced by that. The procession was forced to move so slowly that he arrived three hours late.Too suggests an excessive or undesirable amount, often so much that a particular resultdoes not or cannot happen. She does wear too much make-up at times... He was too late to save her.
More Synonyms of very
very in British English
(ˈvɛrɪ)
adverb
1.
(intensifier) used to add emphasis to adjectives that are able to be graded
very good
very tall
adjective(prenominal)
2.
(intensifier) used with nouns preceded by a definite article or possessive determiner, in order to give emphasis to the significance, appropriateness, or relevance of a noun in a particular context, or to give exaggerated intensity to certain nouns
the very woman I want to see
his very name struck terror
the very back of the room
3.
(intensifier) used in metaphors to emphasize the applicability of the image to the situation described
he was a very lion in the fight
4. archaic
a.
real or true; genuine
the very living God
b.
lawful
the very vengeance of the gods
▶ USAGE In strict usage adverbs of degree such as very, too, quite, really, and extremely are used only to qualify adjectives: he is very happy; she is too sad. By this rule, these words should not be used to qualify past participles that followthe verb to be, since they would then be technically qualifying verbs. With the exception of certainparticiples, such as tired or disappointed, that have come to be regarded as adjectives, all other past participles are qualifiedby adverbs such as much, greatly, seriously, or excessively: he has been much (not very) inconvenienced; she has been excessively (not too) criticized
Word origin
C13: from Old French verai true, from Latin vērax true, from vērus true
very in American English
(ˈvɛri)
adjective
1.
in the fullest sense; complete; absolute
the very opposite of the truth
2.
same; identical
the very hat he lost
3.
being just what is needed or suitable
the very sofa to fit into the space
4.
actual [caught in the very act]
often used as an intensifier [the very rafters shook]
5. Word forms: ˈverier or ˈveriest Archaic
a.
real; true; genuine
b.
legitimate; lawful; rightful
adverb
6.
in a high degree; to a great extent; extremely; exceedingly
used as a qualifier before an adjective or another adverb
7.
truly; really
used as an intensifier
the very same man
SIMILAR WORDS: same
Word origin
ME verai, true < OFr < VL *veraius < L verus, true < IE *weros, true < base *wer-, to be friendly, true > Ger wahr, true, OE wær, a compact
Examples of 'very' in a sentence
very
We have really used the book text and changed very little of it.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The fans here have been very good to me.
The Sun (2016)
Otherwise you could end up feeling very rueful.
The Sun (2017)
What it does is give us a very good indication.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
We are all involved in an industry where there is corruption from the very top.
The Sun (2016)
We are playing very well in a shape defensively and can build on that.
The Sun (2016)
It will come back up very quickly.
The Sun (2016)
There are lots of very different ones.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She wanted to do it and it would have been very churlish to say no.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And a very certain opposition as well: some of it sensible, a good deal of it plain hysterical.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We said very little to each other.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We have a very good take on it.
The Sun (2012)
Those two songs at the end are very touching.
The Sun (2006)
We felt we had already given it our very best shot.
The Sun (2014)
They are strong in certain areas and very strong in others.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You are expected to be right at the top from the very beginning.
The Sun (2013)
We improved in the second half and defended very well.
The Sun (2014)
The staff say all will be back to normal very soon.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
That beat is one of very few moments of real tenderness in the film.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
We will have very little say in what happens.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They do not like humans very much.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Were you also very determined to make something very different to your previous albums?
The Sun (2009)
It often turned out to be very little.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We have a very good squad with very good players.
The Sun (2008)
He gives us a very good balance.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He seems certain to go very close.
The Sun (2012)
This is a demoralising message and can discourage women from aiming for the very top.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
They are very well organised and stubborn.
The Sun (2010)
He was a very funny man.
Max Arthur Lost Voices of the Edwardians: 19011910 in the words of the Men & Women Who WereThere (2006)
But only at the very, very end.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
very
British English: very /ˈvɛrɪ/ ADVERB
Very is used before a word to make it stronger.
She had a very bad dream.
American English: very
Arabic: جِدّاً
Brazilian Portuguese: muito
Chinese: 很
Croatian: vrlo
Czech: velmi
Danish: meget
Dutch: erg
European Spanish: muy
Finnish: erittäin
French: très
German: sehr
Greek: πολύ
Italian: molto
Japanese: 非常に
Korean: 대단히
Norwegian: svært
Polish: bardzo
European Portuguese: muito
Romanian: foarte
Russian: очень
Latin American Spanish: muy
Swedish: mycket
Thai: อย่างมาก
Turkish: çok
Ukrainian: дуже
Vietnamese: rất
All related terms of 'very'
not very
Not very is used with an adjective or adverb to say that something is not at all true , or that it is true only to a small degree .
very edge
The edge of something is the place or line where it stops , or the part of it that is furthest from the middle.
very good
Very good is used to tell someone in authority that you agree to carry out a suggestion or order.
very much
You use very much to emphasize that someone or something has a lot of a particular quality, or that the description you are about to give is particularly accurate .
very well
Very well is used to say that you agree to do something or you accept someone's answer , even though you might not be completely satisfied with it.
Very light
a coloured flare fired from a special pistol ( Very pistol ) for signalling at night , esp at sea
very nature
The nature of something is its basic quality or character.
Very pistol
a special pistol which fires coloured flares for signalling at night , esp at sea
very reason
The reason for something is a fact or situation which explains why it happens or what causes it to happen.
Very signal
a colored flare fired from a special pistol ( Very pistol ) for signaling at night
Very Reverend
a title of respect for a variety of ecclesiastical officials, such as deans and the superiors of some religious houses
very existence
The existence of something is the fact that it is present in the world as a real thing.
very much so
The expression very much so is an emphatic way of answering 'yes' to something or saying that it is true or correct .
all very well
You use all very well to suggest that you do not really approve of something or you think that it is unreasonable .
the very devil
something very difficult or awkward
the very fact
Very is used to give emphasis to an adjective or adverb .
the very idea!
that is preposterous , unreasonable , etc
the very beginning
The beginning of an event or process is the first part of it.
the very notion
A notion is an idea or belief about something.
very low frequency
a radio-frequency band or radio frequency lying between 3 and 30 kilohertz
very high frequency
a radio-frequency band or radio frequency lying between 30 and 300 megahertz
cannot very well do
If you say that you cannot very well do something, you mean that it would not be right or possible to do it.
the bitter/very end
If you do something to the bitter end or to the very end , you continue to do it for as long as you can, although it may be very unpleasant or dangerous .
the same/the very same
You say ' the same ' or ' the very same ' in reply to someone's question when you are saying that they have identified a person or thing correctly.
under one's (very) nose
in plain view
very large crude carrier
See VLCC
very large-scale integration
the process of fabricating a few thousand logic gates or more in a single integrated circuit
just the thing/the very thing
If you say that something is just the thing or is the very thing , you are emphasizing that it is exactly what is wanted or needed.
VHF
VHF is used to refer to a range of frequencies that is often used for transmitting radio broadcasts in stereo . VHF is an abbreviation for 'very high frequency'.
VLF
very low frequency
vic
vicinity
VLSI
very large-scale integration
Chinese translation of 'very'
very
(ˈvɛrɪ)
adv
很 (hěn)
⇒ a very good idea一个很好的主意 (yī gè hěn hǎo de zhǔyi)
the very end/beginning最终(終)/一开(開)始 (zuìzhōng/yī kāishǐ)
adj
those were his very words那就是他的原话(話) (nà jiù shì tā de yuánhuà)
the very thought (of it) alarms me一想起(它)就让(讓)我惊(驚)恐不安 (yī xiǎngqǐ (tā) jiù ràng wǒ jīngkǒng bù'ān)
at the very least至少 (zhìshǎo)
very well (agreeing) 那好吧 (nà hǎo ba)
very much so确(確)实(實)如此 (quèshí rúcǐ)
very little极少的 (jí shǎo de)
there isn't very much (of ... )( ... )不太多了 (( ... ) bù tài duō le)
I like him very much我非常喜欢(歡)他 (wǒ fēicháng xǐhuan tā)
Seev
All related terms of 'very'
V 1
( letter ) 英语的第二十二个字母
very well
( agreeing ) 那好吧 nà hǎo ba
very little
极少的 jí shǎo de
very much so
确(確)实(實)如此 quèshí rúcǐ
very occasionally
非常偶然地 fēicháng ǒurán de
very few survive
极(極)少幸(倖)存 jí shǎo xìngcún
at the very least
至少 zhìshǎo
he's a very busy man
他是个(個)大忙人 tā shì gè dà máng rén
I like him very much
我非常喜欢(歡)他 wǒ fēicháng xǐhuan tā
she's doing (very) nicely
她过(過)得(很)好 tā guò de (hěn) hǎo
the very end/beginning
最终(終)/一开(開)始 zuìzhōng/yī kāishǐ
there isn't very much (of ... )
( ... )不太多了 ( ... ) bù tài duō le
he could be very unkind
他可能会(會)很刻薄 tā kěnéng huì hěn kèbó
her face was very red
她的脸(臉)很红(紅) tā de liǎn hěn hóng
his face was very red
他的脸(臉)很红(紅) tā de liǎn hěn hóng
it makes me very cross
这(這)令我很生气(氣) zhè lìng wǒ hěn shēngqì
that's very good of you
你实(實)在太好了 nǐ shízài tài hǎo le
he can be very unpleasant
他有时(時)会(會)非常不高兴(興) tā yǒushí huì fēicháng bù gāoxìng
he was very heavily built
他身材庞(龐)大 tā shēncái pángdà
those were his very words
那就是他的原话(話) nà jiù shì tā de yuánhuà
time went very slowly/quickly
时(時)间(間)过(過)得很慢/很快 shíjiān guò de hěn màn/hěn kuài
he was very attractive to women
他对(對)女人很有吸引力 tā duì nǚrén hěn yǒu xīyǐnlì
may you be very happy together!
祝愿(願)你们(們)百年好合！ zhùyuàn nǐmen bǎinián hǎohé!
she's very close to her brother
她和她兄弟很亲(親)近 tā hé tā xiōngdi hěn qīnjìn
tanks are very heavy on fuel
坦克很耗油 tǎnkè hěn hàoyóu
that was very decent of him
他那么(麼)做真是个(個)好人 tā nàme zuò zhēn shì gè hǎorén
that's very inconvenient for me
那对(對)我来(來)说(說)是很不方便的 nà duì wǒ láishuō shì hěn bù fāngbiàn de
她非常生气(氣)，因为(為)他又迟(遲)到了 tā fēicháng shēngqì, yīnwèi tā yòu chídào le
we are working to a very tight schedule
我们(們)的工作日程很紧(緊) wǒmen de gōngzuò rìchéng hěn jǐn
for all his complaints, he is very fond of her
尽(儘)管他牢骚(騷)满(滿)腹，他还(還)是很喜欢(歡)她 Jǐnguǎn tā láosāo mǎn fù, tā háishi hěn xǐhuan tā
he may not be very bright, but he is hard-working
他可能不是很聪(聰)明，但很努力 tā kěnéng bù shì hěn cōngmíng, dàn hěn nǔlì
right from the beginning or from the very beginning
从(從)一开(開)始 cóng yīkāishǐ
the next five years/weeks will be very important
接下来(來)的5年/周(週)将(將)是至关(關)重要的 jiēxiàlái de wǔ nián/zhōu jiāng shì zhì guān zhòngyào de
VHF
very high frequency 特高频(頻) tègāopín
VIP
very important person 要人 yàorén
at the (very) most
顶(頂)多 dǐngduō
by its (very) nature
理所当(當)然 lǐ suǒ dāng rán
from the (very) first
从(從)(最)一开(開)始 cóng (zuì) yīkāishǐ
thank you (very much)
(非常)感谢(謝)你 (fēicháng) gǎnxiè nǐ
I doubt it (very much)
我(很)怀(懷)疑 wǒ (hěn) huáiyí
I (very) nearly fell over
我差点(點)摔倒了 wǒ chàdiǎn shuāidǎo le
(adverb)
Definition
used to add emphasis to adjectives and adverbs that are able to be graded
I am very grateful to you for all your help.
Synonyms
extremely
The taste of bitterness is an extremely common feature of herbal remedies.
highly
He was a highly successful entrepreneur.
greatly
People would benefit greatly from a pollution-free vehicle.
really
It was really good.
deeply
Our conversation left me deeply depressed.
particularly
The pollen count has been particularly high.
seriously (informal)
one of the first seriously wealthy rock-star landowners
truly
a truly splendid man
absolutely
terribly
I'm terribly sorry to bother you at this hour.
remarkably
unusually
jolly (British)
wonderfully
profoundly
I'm profoundly grateful for all the support I've received.
decidedly
awfully (informal)
That caramel looks awfully good.
acutely
It was an acutely uncomfortable journey.
exceedingly
It was an exceedingly difficult decision to make.
excessively
noticeably
eminently
His family was eminently respectable.
superlatively
uncommonly
Mary was uncommonly good at tennis.
surpassingly
v (textmessaging)
1 (adjective)
Definition
used with nouns to give emphasis or exaggerated intensity
Those were his very words to me.
Synonyms
exact
I can't remember the exact words he used.
actual
precise
We will never know the precise details of his death.
same
Bernard works at the same institution as Arlette.
real
express
I was warned not to leave my post without express orders.
identical
unqualified
selfsame
v (textmessaging)
2 (adjective)
Definition
used with nouns to give emphasis or exaggerated intensity
the very person we need for the job
Synonyms
ideal
perfect
This is a perfect time to buy a house.
right
Make sure you approach it in the right way.
fitting
The President's address was a fitting end to the campaign.
appropriate
It is appropriate that Irish names dominate the list.
suitable
She had no other dress suitable for the occasion.
spot on (British, informal)
apt
The words of this report are as apt today as they were in 1929.
just the job (British, informal)
This bag is just the job for travelling.
v (textmessaging)
3 (adjective)
Definition
used with nouns to give emphasis or exaggerated intensity
the very sound of a telephone ringing evoked fear
Synonyms
mere
It proved to be a mere trick of fate.
simple
His refusal to talk was simple stubbornness.
plain
a plain grey stone house, distinguished by its unspoilt simplicity
Her dress was plain, but it hung well on her.
nothing more than
v (textmessaging)
Usage note
In strict usage, adverbs of degree such as very, too, quite, really, and extremely are used only to qualify adjectives: he is very happy; she is too sad. By this rule, these words should not be used to qualify past participles that follow the verb to be, since they would then be technically qualifying verbs. With the exception of certain participles, such as tired or disappointed, that have come to be regarded as adjectives, all other past participles are qualified by adverbs such as much, greatly, seriously, or excessively: he has been much (not very) inconvenienced; she has been excessively (not too) criticized.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of acutely
It was an acutely uncomfortable journey.
Synonyms
very,
highly,
greatly,
severely,
extremely,
terribly,
utterly,
unusually,
exceptionally,
extraordinarily,
intensely,
markedly,
awfully (informal),
exceedingly,
excessively,
inordinately,
uncommonly
in the sense of appropriate
Definition
right or suitable
It is appropriate that Irish names dominate the list.
Synonyms
suitable,
right,
fitting,
fit,
suited,
correct,
belonging,
relevant,
proper,
to the point,
in keeping,
apt,
applicable,
pertinent,
befitting,
well-suited,
well-timed,
apposite,
apropos,
opportune (formal),
becoming,
seemly,
felicitous,
germane,
to the purpose,
appurtenant,
congruous,
meet (archaic)
in the sense of apt
Definition
suitable or appropriate
The words of this report are as apt today as they were in 1929.
Synonyms
appropriate,
timely,
right,
seemly,
fitting,
fit,
related,
correct,
belonging,
suitable,
relevant,
proper,
to the point,
applicable,
pertinent,
befitting,
apposite,
apropos,
opportune (formal),
germane,
to the purpose,
meet (archaic)
Synonyms of 'very'
very
Explore 'very' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of awfully
Definition
very
That caramel looks awfully good.
Synonyms
very,
extremely,
terribly,
exceptionally,
quite,
very much,
seriously (informal),
greatly,
immensely,
exceedingly,
excessively,
dreadfully
in the sense of deeply
Our conversation left me deeply depressed.
Synonyms
thoroughly,
completely,
seriously,
sadly,
severely,
gravely,
profoundly,
intensely,
to the heart,
passionately,
acutely,
to the core,
feelingly,
movingly,
distressingly,
to the quick,
affectingly
in the sense of eminently
Definition
extremely
His family was eminently respectable.
Synonyms
extremely,
very,
highly,
greatly,
particularly,
seriously (informal),
signally,
well,
notably,
remarkably,
positively,
exceptionally,
exceedingly,
prominently,
strikingly,
supremely,
conspicuously,
outstandingly,
surpassingly
in the sense of exceedingly
Definition
very
It was an exceedingly difficult decision to make.
Synonyms
extremely,
very,
highly,
greatly,
especially,
hugely,
seriously (informal),
vastly,
unusually,
enormously,
exceptionally,
extraordinarily,
excessively,
superlatively,
inordinately,
to a fault,
to the nth degree,
surpassingly
in the sense of express
Definition
explicitly stated
I was warned not to leave my post without express orders.
Synonyms
explicit,
clear,
direct,
precise,
pointed,
certain,
plain,
accurate,
exact,
distinct,
definite,
outright,
unambiguous,
categorical
in the sense of fitting
Definition
appropriate or proper
The President's address was a fitting end to the campaign.
Synonyms
appropriate,
suitable,
proper,
apt,
right,
becoming,
meet (archaic),
seemly,
correct,
decent,
desirable,
apposite,
decorous,
comme il faut
in the sense of greatly
People would benefit greatly from a pollution-free vehicle.
Synonyms
very much,
much,
hugely,
vastly,
extremely,
highly,
seriously (informal),
notably,
considerably,
remarkably,
enormously,
immensely,
tremendously,
markedly,
powerfully,
exceedingly,
mightily,
abundantly,
by much,
by leaps and bounds,
to the nth degree
in the sense of highly
Definition
extremely
He was a highly successful entrepreneur.
Synonyms
extremely,
very,
greatly,
seriously (informal),
vastly,
exceptionally,
extraordinarily,
immensely,
decidedly,
tremendously,
supremely,
eminently
in the sense of just the job
Definition
exactly what is required
This bag is just the job for travelling.
Synonyms
perfect,
excellent,
ideal,
supreme,
superb,
splendid,
sublime,
superlative
in the sense of particularly
The pollen count has been particularly high.
Synonyms
especially,
surprisingly,
notably,
unusually,
exceptionally,
decidedly,
markedly,
peculiarly,
singularly,
outstandingly,
uncommonly
Additional synonyms
in the sense of perfect
Definition
excellent in all respects
This is a perfect time to buy a house.
Synonyms
excellent,
ideal,
supreme,
superb,
splendid,
sublime,
superlative
in the sense of plain
Definition
without adornment
a plain grey stone house, distinguished by its unspoilt simplicityHer dress was plain, but it hung well on her.
Synonyms
unadorned,
simple,
basic,
severe,
pure,
bare,
modest,
stark,
restrained,
muted,
discreet,
austere,
spartan,
unfussy,
unvarnished,
unembellished,
unornamented,
unpatterned,
bare-bones
in the sense of precise
Definition
particular or exact
We will never know the precise details of his death.
Synonyms
exact,
specific,
actual,
particular,
express,
fixed,
correct,
absolute,
accurate,
explicit,
definite,
clear-cut,
literal,
unequivocal,
surgical
in the sense of profoundly
I'm profoundly grateful for all the support I've received.
Synonyms
greatly,
very,
deeply,
seriously (informal),
keenly,
extremely,
thoroughly,
sincerely,
intensely,
acutely,
heartily,
to the core,
abjectly,
to the nth degree,
from the bottom of your heart
in the sense of really
Definition
truly
It was really good.
Synonyms
very,
particularly,
seriously (informal),
truly,
extremely,
terribly,
remarkably,
unusually,
jolly (British),
awfully (informal),
exceedingly,
excessively,
eminently,
superlatively,
uncommonly
in the sense of right
Definition
appropriate, suitable, or proper
Make sure you approach it in the right way.
Synonyms
proper,
done,
becoming,
seemly,
fitting,
fit,
appropriate,
suitable,
desirable,
comme il faut
in the sense of same
Definition
being the very one
Bernard works at the same institution as Arlette.
Synonyms
the very same,
very,
one and the same,
selfsame
in the sense of seriously
one of the first seriously wealthy rock-star landowners