very
7 ENTRIES FOUND:
Britannica Dictionary definition of VERY
1
:
to a great degree
:
extremely
— used for emphasis before adjectives and adverbs
— often used in negative statements
-
a very hot day
-
very accurate results
-
a very small/large number/amount
-
Very few people attended.
-
It was a very unusual/difficult situation.
-
He talks very slowly.
-
We checked very carefully.
-
She did very well on the test.
-
It was very nice of you to stop by.
-
I'm very pleased to meet you.
-
I'm very sorry.
-
“Thank you very much.” “You're very welcome.”
-
“Were you surprised?” “Yes, very.”
-
The building is very French. [=it looks like buildings in France]
-
(formal) Any help you can provide would be very much appreciated.
-
There weren't very many people there.
-
She was never very popular.
-
The food wasn't very good.
-
I didn't like the food very much.
-
“Was the food good?” “Not very.”
-
“Did you like the food?” “Not very much.”
-
“How's your dad?” “Not very well, I'm afraid.” [=my dad is ill]
-
She's not very happy with me right now. [=she's annoyed with me]
-
They weren't very nice (to me). [=they didn't treat me well; they were mean to me]
2
— used to emphasize the exactness of a description
-
the very best restaurants
-
We left the very next day.
-
I told the very same [=exact same, (US) same exact] story.
-
Mom said I can have my very own room [=a bedroom that I do not have to share] in the new house!
very good
very much so
— used to say “yes” or to say that you agree with something
-
“Were you surprised?” “Yes, very much so.”
very well
1
somewhat old-fashioned
— used to say that you agree with something
—
see also all very well at 2well
-
Very well, then. I'll see you tomorrow.
-
Oh, very well. Do as you please.
2
:
reasonably or properly
-
I can't very well show up at the wedding uninvited. [=it would be improper for me to show up at the wedding uninvited]
2
very
/ˈveri/
adjective
2
very
/ˈveri/
adjective
Britannica Dictionary definition of VERY
always used before a noun
1
— used to emphasize that you are talking about one specific thing or part and not another
-
Those were his very [=exact, precise, actual] words.
-
There's the very book I was looking for.
-
the very heart [=the most central part] of the city
-
the very [=extreme] beginning/end of the story
-
I knew he was trouble right from the very start.
-
That's the very [=same] car I saw yesterday.
-
The President and the Prime Minister are meeting at this very moment. [=right now]
-
At the very moment the meeting began, the lights went out. = The meeting began, and at that very moment, the lights went out.
2
:
not having anything added or extra
-
The very [=mere] idea/thought of making a speech terrified him. [=just thinking about making a speech terrified him]
-
You could try to help, at the very least. [=the least you could do is to try to help; you could at least try to help]
3
— used to emphasize that something belongs to or is part of a particular person or thing
-
He disappeared right before our very eyes!
-
a room of my very own [=a room I do not have to share]
-
Dogs are territorial by their very nature.
