much
[adjective]
Synonyms:
- great, abundant, a lot of, ample, considerable, copious, plenty of, sizable or sizeable, substantial
[noun]
Synonyms:
- a lot, a good deal, a great deal, heaps (informal), loads (informal), lots (informal), plenty
[adverb]
Synonyms:
- greatly, a great deal, a lot, considerably, decidedly, exceedingly

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Antonyms: little
Contrasted words: bit, crumb, modicum, trifle, deficiency, inadequacy, insufficiency, undersupply
Related Idioms: all kinds of
Related Words: excess, overage, oversupply, plethora, superfluity

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. much¹ S1 W1 /mʌtʃ/ adverb

1. by a great amount
much better/greater/easier etc
Henry’s room is much bigger than mine.
These shoes are much more comfortable.
I’m feeling very much better, thank you.
much too big/old etc
He was driving much too fast.
much the best/most interesting etc British English:
It’s much the best way to do it.
GRAMMAR
The adverb much is mainly used before comparative adjectives:
He’s much older than she is.
Much can also be used before 'different' in negative sentences and questions:
She doesn’t look much different.

2.
a) used to ask or talk about the degree of a difference
how much older/smaller etc
She kept weighing herself to see how much heavier she was getting.
b) used to ask or talk about how big an additional amount of something is
how much more/longer/further
How much longer do we have to wait?
How much further is it?
c) used to emphasize the difference you are mentioning
how much better/nicer/easier etc
I was surprised to see how much better she was looking.
How much better life would be if we returned to the values of the past!

3. used to talk about a strong feeling or something that is done often
how/however much
You know how much I care about you.
I think you have to accept the pain, however much it hurts.
He talks too much.
We’re looking forward to your visit so much.
Thank you very much!
much loved/admired/discussed etc
The money will buy much needed books for the school.

4. not ... much
a) only a little or hardly at all:
‘Did you enjoy it?’ ‘No, not much.’
She isn’t much younger than me.
Tony hasn’t changed much in the last ten years.
b) used to say that something does not often happen:
We don’t go to the theatre much any more.
Kids don’t play outside as much as they used to. ⇒ little³(2)

5. much like something/much as (also much the same (as something)) used to say that something is very similar to something else:
The house was very much as I’d remembered it.
The taste is much like butter.
Plants are classified in much the same way as animals.

6. much to sb’s surprise/embarrassment etc formal used to say that someone feels very surprised, embarrassed etc when something happens:
Much to my relief, the conversation turned to another topic.

7. much less used to say that a greater thing is even less true, likely, or possible than the thing you have just mentioned:
The shelves were lined with books which neither Hugo nor Sally would ever open, much less read.

8. much as although:
Much as I like Bob, I wouldn’t want to live with him.

9. not so much ... as ... used to say that one description of someone or something is less suitable or correct than another:
She was not so much nervous as impatient for the journey to be over.
⇒ so much the better at better³(2)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. much² S1 W1 determiner, pronoun

1. a large amount of something:
I don’t have much money with me.
Was there much traffic?
He didn’t say much about his trip.
Do you get much chance to travel in your job?
After much consideration we have finally arrived at a decision.
much of
Much of the city was destroyed in the attack.
(far/rather/a little) too much
There was too much work for one person.
It would cost far too much to have the thing repaired.
It was such a small thing to have caused so much trouble.
GRAMMAR
Much is used before uncountable nouns, mainly in questions and negative sentences, or after too or so:
Was there much mess?
I don’t have much time.
We’ve wasted too much time.
► Do not use much before plural nouns. Use many or a lot of:
There are too many advertisements (NOT too much advertisements) on television.

REGISTER
Much sounds formal in positive statements. In everyday English, people usually say a lot of:
The dress cost a lot of money.
After a lot of thought I said yes.

2. how much used to ask or talk about the amount or cost of something:
How much is that dress?
How much flour should I use in the sauce?
I know how much hard work goes into looking after a baby.

3. as much an amount that is equal and not less
as much (...) as
I hope you have as much fun as I did.
Just do as much as you can.

4. as much as 10/100 etc used to emphasize how surprisingly large an amount is:
Some machines cost as much as £20,000.

5. used in negative expressions to say that something is not important, interesting, good etc
not/nothing much
‘What are you doing?’ ‘Oh, not much, really.’
There’s nothing much we can do to help.
I don’t think much of that idea (=I do not think it is good).
The car may not be much to look at (=it does not look good) but it’s very reliable.
It’s the best book he’s written, but that’s not saying much (=none of his books is very good).

6. not be much of a something to not be a good example of something or not be very good at something:
I’m not much of a dancer, I’m afraid.
It wasn’t really much of a storm.

7. be too much for somebody to be too difficult for someone to do or bear:
The effort of climbing the stairs had been too much for the old man.
The shock had been too much for her – she never recovered.

8. not be up to much British English spoken to be fairly bad:
The restaurant’s very grand but the food isn’t up to much.

9. there is not much in it informal used to say that there is little difference between two things or amounts:
‘Isn’t the woollen carpet more expensive?’ ‘A little, perhaps, but there’s not much in it.’

10. think/say etc as much to think or say the thing that has just been mentioned:
Carson strongly disapproved of the plan and said as much at the meeting.
‘Max was lying all the time.’ ‘ I thought as much.’

11. it was as much as somebody could do to do something used to say that someone only succeeded in doing something with great difficulty:
He looked so stupid, it was as much as I could do to stop myself from laughing.

12. not/without so much as something used when you are surprised or annoyed that someone did not do something:
They left without so much as saying goodbye.
He’d received not so much as a thank you from Tiffany.

13. so much for something used to say that a particular action, idea, statement etc was not useful or did not produce the result that was hoped for:
He’s late again. So much for good intentions.

14. I’ll say this/that much for somebody/something used when saying one good thing about someone or something when they are being criticized a lot:
Well, he does admit it when he’s wrong, I’ll say that much for him.

15. as much again an additional amount that is equal:
The car only cost me £1,500 but it cost as much again to get it insured.

16. be a bit much/be too much British English spoken used to say that someone’s behaviour is unacceptable or impolite:
It’s a bit much expecting you to pay for it all.

17. make much of somebody/something formal to treat a person or thing as though you think they are very important or special:
The press made much of the discovery.
They’ve always made much of their nephews and nieces.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

much
I.
pronoun
1.
BAD: We don't need to hire that much employees.
GOOD: We don't need to hire that many employees.
BAD: There are as much disadvantages as advantages.
GOOD: There are as many disadvantages as advantages.
BAD: There are too much people in Mexico.
GOOD: There are too many people in Mexico.

Usage Note:
much + uncountable noun: 'There isn't much traffic today.' 'There was too much furniture in the room.'
many + plural (countable) noun: 'There aren't many cars today.' 'There were too many chairs in the room.'

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2.
BAD: Nowadays, there are much more criminals than policemen.
GOOD: Nowadays, there are far more criminals than policemen.
BAD: I make much too many mistakes.
GOOD: I make far too many mistakes.

Usage Note:
At the beginning of a phrase that ends with a plural (countable) noun, use far (NOT much ). Compare 'much more traffic', 'far more cars'

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3.
BAD: As a doctor he earns much money.
GOOD: As a doctor he earns a lot of money.

Usage Note:
See note at MANY 1 (many)

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4.
See TOO MUCH 2

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

much
II.
adverb
BAD: British culture is much different from ours.
GOOD: British culture is very different from ours.
BAD: We were much afraid that we would miss the flight.
GOOD: We were very afraid that we would miss the flight.

Usage Note:
Much is used before an adjective (1) in questions and negative sentences: 'Is British culture much different from ours?' 'No, it isn't much different.' (2) before comparative forms: 'His last novel was much longer and much more interesting.' (3) before certain past participles acting as adjectives: 'Her drawings are much admired.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

much
mʌtʃ
See: as much as , for as much as , make much of , so much , so much for , think a great deal of or think much of

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲