much
/mʌtʃ
/determiner & pronoun (more, most) [often with negative or in questions]
1A large amount: [as determiner]: I didn’t get much sleep that night I did so much shopping [as pronoun]: he does not eat much they must bear much of the blame...
- So much of modern medicine relies on our understanding of the physiology of the human body.
- I am a little afraid to ask what it is, but I do know I will not be eating much of this.
- He is thought to have spent much of the previous night at a North Yorkshire guest house.
Synonyms
a lot of, a great/good deal of, a great/large amount of, plenty of, ample, copious, abundant, plentiful, considerable, substantial
informal lots of, loads of, heaps of, masses of, a pile of, piles of, oodles of, tons of, more … than one can shake a stick at
British informal lashings of, a shedload of
North American informal gobs of
vulgar slang a shitload of
a lot, a great/good deal, plenty
informal lots, loads, heaps, masses, oodles, tons
1.1 [as pronoun, with negative] Used to refer disparagingly to someone or something as being a poor specimen: I’m not much of a gardener...
- The idea wasn't at all simple and so I didn't have much of a chance to run with it.
- In an escalating situation neither side has much of a reputation for brinkmanship.
- Great person, and a huge influence, but didn't have that much of an effect on the album.
adverb
1To a great extent; a great deal: did it hurt much? thanks very much they did not mind, much to my surprise [with comparative]: they look much better...
- It is a gesture that is very much appreciated by myself and Dawn's family in Devon.
- Their innovative power and tremendous humour and charm are still very much intact.
- McEwan has always had a twinkle in her eyes and this is going to be very much evident with the new series.
Synonyms
greatly, to a great extent/degree, a great deal, a lot, exceedingly, considerably, appreciably, decidedly, indeed
1.1 [usually with negative or in questions] For a large part of one’s time; often: I’m not there much...
- I don't go out much anymore, so a Guide Dog would be wasted on me.
- He is kind of an egocentric person and I guess if he doesn't read much, he doesn't think anyone does either.
- We don't watch tv much, but we spend all of our time on the Internet.
Synonyms
often, frequently, many times, on many/numerous occasions, repeatedly, recurrently, regularly, habitually, customarily, routinely, usually, normally, commonly;
for long, for a long time
informal a lot
Phrases
as much
a bit much
make much of
(as) much as
much less
not much in it
so much the better (or worse)
this much
too much
Derivatives
muchly
/ adverb (humorous) ...- I'll make a few bucks off the sale of each book, which will help out muchly when I join the ranks of the unemployed in mid-December.
- I have Womens Studies and am looking forward to it muchly… that is, if class isn't cancelled tonight.
- I remember thinking that violins would smell of a forest in summer, and was muchly disappointed when it smelt metallic and oily.
Origin
Middle English: shortened from muchel, from Old English micel (see mickle).