very Meaning & Definition
What Does Very Mean?
Very is an adverb that means To a great extent or degree. It is also used to mean Conforming to fact, reality or rule; true. As an adjective, it means True, real, actual.
Quick Facts About Very
| Part of speech | adverb, adjective |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //ˈvɛɹi// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | rattling, identical and real |
| Comparative / superlative | verier, veriest |
Very Definition (Adverb)
- To a great extent or degree.
That dress is very you.
- Conforming to fact, reality or rule; true.
- Used to firmly establish that nothing else surpasses in some respect.
He was the very best runner there.
Very as an Adjective
- True, real, actual.
the fierce hatred of a very woman
- The same; identical.
He proposed marriage in the same restaurant, at the very table where they first met.
- With limiting effect: mere.
The very idea of climbing the ladder brings me out in a sweat.
Adverb
- (with superlatives) Used to firmly establish that nothing else surpasses in some respect.
He was the very best runner there.
Synonyms of Very
Antonyms of Very
No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.
Very in a Sentence
That dress is very you.
Not very many (of them) had been damaged.
She's so very similar to her mother.
‘Is she busy?’ ― ‘Not very.’
In the end, the tickets didn't turn out so very expensive.
He was the very best runner there.
This is my very own treehouse.
the fierce hatred of a very woman
the very blood and bone of our grammar
He tried his very best.
We're approaching the very end of the trip.
He proposed marriage in the same restaurant, at the very table where they first met.
That's the very tool that I need.
The very man I wanted to see!
The very idea of climbing the ladder brings me out in a sweat.
The very idea/thought!
Word Forms & Grammar
very (not comparable)
very (not generally comparable, comparative verier, superlative veriest)
Words That Rhyme With Very
Origin of Very
Origin 1: From Middle English verray, from Old French verai (“true”), from Early Medieval Latin vērāgus, from Classical Latin vērāx, derived from vērus, from Proto-Italic *wēros, from Proto-Indo-European *weh₁ros.
Origin 2: Distantly cognate with Old English wǣr (“true”). Over time displaced the use of a number of Germanic words or prefixes to convey the sense 'very' such as fele, full-, mæġen, sore, sin-, swīþe, (partially) wel.
Pronouncing Very
You say very as //ˈvɛɹi//. It has 1 syllable.
Questions People Ask About Very
Is very an adverb or an adjective?
Very is mainly used as an adverb, but it can also be used as an adjective.
What is another word for very?
Close synonyms of very are rattling, identical and real. See the full list of very synonyms and antonyms.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of very?
The comparative form is verier and the superlative form is veriest.