What does “very” mean?
- 1
adverbto a high degree; used to make adjectives and adverbs stronger
It’s very cold today.
- 2
adjectiveexact or particular; used for emphasis
That’s the very book I wanted.
Very at a glance
- Part of speech
- adverb & adjective
- CEFR level
- A1 (beginner)
- Pronunciation
- /ˈvɛri/ · VAIR-ee
How to use “very” correctly
Don’t use “very” with verbs: say “I like it very much”, not “I very like it”.
Common phrases with “very”
- very much
- very well
- not very
- the very first
Synonyms, opposites and related words
Synonyms (similar meaning)
- really
- extremely
“very” is on these word lists
Learn these words next
- only adverbA1no more than, or nobody or nothing else
- too adverbA1more than is needed or wanted
- add verbA1to put something together with something else
- all determinerA1the whole number or amount of something
- almost adverbA2very nearly but not completely
- any determinerA1some; used in questions and negative sentences
- best adjectiveA1better than all others
- better adjectiveA1of a higher standard or more suitable than something else