very
[adverb]
Synonyms:
- extremely, acutely, decidedly, deeply, exceedingly, greatly, highly, profoundly, uncommonly, unusually
[adjective]
Synonyms:
- exact, precise, selfsame

---

Contrasted words: fake, fraudulent, mock, sham, inconsiderably, little, scarcely, slightly, apparently, ostensibly, outwardly, seemingly
Related Idioms: (the) very same, nothing if not, in point of fact, in truth
Related Words: hundred-percent, perfect, correct, exact, right, especial, express, special, passing, quite, somewhat, perfectly, seriously, significantly, tellingly, exactly, precisely, almost, nearly, practically, well-nigh

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. ve‧ry¹ S1 W1 /ˈveri/ adverb

1. [+ adjective/adverb] used to emphasize an adjective, adverb, or phrase:
It feels very cold today.
The fishing industry is very important to the area.
The traffic’s moving very slowly this morning.
problems that are very similar to mine
I feel a lot better – thank you very much.
I’m very, very (=used for emphasis) pleased you can come.
It’s very kind of you to help.
My sister and I were married on the very same (=exactly the same) day.
the very best/latest/worst etc
We only use the very best ingredients.

2. not very good/happy/far etc
not good etc at all:
I’m just not very good at spelling.
The garden’s not very big, is it?
The assistant wasn’t very helpful.
‘Was the talk interesting?’ ‘Not very (=only slightly).’

3. your very own used to emphasize the fact that something belongs to one particular person and to no one else:
She was thrilled at the idea of having her very own toys to play with.
of your very own
At last, she had a home of her very own.

4. informal used with adjectives to say that the quality something has is very noticeable or typical:
It was a very male reaction, I thought.
His films are always very French.

5. very much so spoken used to emphasize your agreement or approval:
‘Are you serious?’ ‘Very much so.’

6. very well old-fashioned spoken used to agree to something


GRAMMAR
Do not use very with adjectives that have 'very' as part of their meaning, for example 'terrible' (=very bad) and 'fascinating' (=very interesting). Just use the adjective, or use absolutely to emphasize it:
a terrible car crash
I felt absolutely terrible.
Do not use very on its own with verbs and prepositional phrases. Use very much:
He very much regrets what happened.
Their efforts were very much appreciated.
I liked him very much.
He was very much in demand as a lecturer.
In more formal English, much can sometimes be used without 'very' before a past participle or a preposition:
The point has been much disputed.
China has been much in the news recently.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. very² S2 W1 adjective [only before noun]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: verai, from Latin verax 'truthful', from verus 'true']
used to emphasize that you are talking exactly about one particular thing or person:
He died in this very room.
I’ll start at the very beginning.
Those were his very words.
You’d better start doing some work this very minute (=now, not later).
That might provoke a riot, the very thing he was trying to avoid.
The very fact that you are reading this book suggests you want to improve your fitness.
By its very nature, capitalism involves exploitation of the worker.
His life’s work was being destroyed before his very eyes (=directly in front of him).
the very thought/idea/mention (of something) (=just thinking about or suggesting something)
The very thought of food made me feel ill.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

very

the very end
To the very end of his life he remained a controversial figure.
the very beginning
It is clear from the very beginning of the play that he is a weak and unpopular ruler.
the very heart of something
The hotel is located in the very heart of the city.
the very fact that
The very fact that this is their second home means that they are well-off.
the/that/this very moment
At that very moment, the doorbell rang.
the/that very thing
How can he say that it's wrong, and then go and do that very thing himself?
the very nature/essence of something
As a travel writer, the very nature of his job meant that he travelled a lot.
the very existence of something
If the new project fails, it could threaten the very existence of the company.
the very idea/thought (=just an idea or suggestion)
The very idea of acting on stage scares the pants off me.
this/that very reason
I want everyone to be able to cook my recipes, so for that very reason I chose inexperienced cooks to test them.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

very
adverb
1.
BAD: He looked very funny that I couldn't help laughing.
GOOD: He looked so funny that I couldn't help laughing.

Usage Note:
so + adjective/adverb + that clause: 'The music was so loud that I started to get a headache.'

---

2.
BAD: I enjoyed very much my stay in the USA.
GOOD: I enjoyed my stay in the USA very much.
BAD: I would like very much to visit some of the places that I have been reading about.
GOOD: I would very much like to visit some of the places that I have been reading about.

Usage Note:
Do not put very much between a verb (e.g 'enjoyed') and its object (e.g. 'my stay in the USA'). When the object is short, very much goes at the end of the sentence or in front of the verb. When the object is long, very much usually goes in front of the verb: 'I very much hope that you and your family have a safe journey.'

---

3.
BAD: It costs very much.
GOOD: It costs a lot (of money).
BAD: New doors cost very much because wood is so expensive.
GOOD: New doors cost a lot (of money) because wood is so expensive.

Usage Note:
With some verbs (e.g. cost, pay, charge, eat ) it is possible to use very much in questions and negative sentences: 'Did it cost very much?' 'It didn't cost very much.'
However, in affirmative sentences very much is usually replaced by a lot : 'It will cost quite a lot to have the job done properly.'

---

4.
BAD: Meno Park in Central Tokyo is very huge.
GOOD: Meno Park in Central Tokyo is (absolutely) huge.
BAD: The traffic jams are very terrible.
GOOD: The traffic jams are (absolutely) terrible.
BAD: I'm very convinced that he is telling the truth.
GOOD: I'm (absolutely) convinced that he is telling the truth.

Usage Note:
Do not use very or extremely with adjectives which already have a strong meaning, e.g. boiling (= very hot), convinced (= very sure), exhausted (= very tired), huge (= very big), terrible (= very bad). If you want to increase the strength of these words, use absolutely or (depending on the particular adjective) completely, totally, utterly or quite : 'By the time I got home I was completely exhausted.'
With adjectives which do not have a strong meaning, use very or extremely (NOT absolutely, completely etc ): 'By the time I got back home I was very tired.'

---

5.
BAD: Their services are very appreciated by the hospital management.
GOOD: Their services are greatly appreciated by the hospital management.

Usage Note:
Very may be used with past participles that are like adjectives and refer to a state: 'very bored/worried/interested/pleased'.
Past participles with a strongly passive meaning are usually modified by greatly or (very) much : 'His work is much admired.' 'This courageous woman, who helped so many of us, will be greatly missed.'

---

6.
See LOVE (love)

---

7.
BAD: Although he was very in love with Marianne, he wanted to marry a rich heiress.
GOOD: Although he was very much in love with Marianne, he wanted to marry a rich heiress.

Usage Note:
Very is not used before a phrase beginning with a preposition (e.g. 'in love with', 'in need of', 'at odds with'). However, in such cases it is often possible to use very much : 'These proposals are very much in keeping with the President's own ideas.'
Note the alternative: 'Although he was deeply in love ...'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

very
ˈverɪ
See: all very well

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲