Content-Length: 217440 | pFad | http://www.dictionary.com:80/browse/very

VERY Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for very

very

[ ver-ee ]

adverb

  1. in a high degree; extremely; exceedingly:

    A giant is very tall.

  2. (used as an intensive emphasizing superlatives or stressing identity or oppositeness):

    the very best thing; in the very same place as before.



adjective

(Obsolete) verier, veriest.
  1. precise; particular:

    That is the very item we want.

  2. mere:

    The very thought of it is distressing.

  3. sheer; utter:

    He wept from the very joy of knowing he was safe.

    Synonyms: plain, simple, pure

  4. actual:

    He was caught in the very act of stealing.

  5. being such in the true or fullest sense of the term; extreme:

    the very heart of the matter.

  6. true; genuine; worthy of being called such:

    the very God; a very fool.

  7. rightful or legitimate.

very

/ ˈvɛrɪ /

adverb

  1. (intensifier) used to add emphasis to adjectives that are able to be graded

    very good

    very tall

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. (intensifier) used with nouns preceded by a definite article or possessive determiner, in order to give emphasis to the significance, appropriateness or relevance of a noun in a particular context, or to give exaggerated intensity to certain nouns

    the very man I want to see

    his very name struck terror

    the very back of the room

  2. (intensifier) used in metaphors to emphasize the applicability of the image to the situation described

    he was a very lion in the fight

  3. archaic.
    1. real or true; genuine

      the very living God

    2. lawful

      the very vengeance of the gods

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Usage

In strict usage adverbs of degree such as very, too, quite, really, and extremely are used only to qualify adjectives: he is very happy; she is too sad. By this rule, these words should not be used to qualify past participles that follow the verb to be, since they would then be technically qualifying verbs. With the exception of certain participles, such as tired or disappointed, that have come to be regarded as adjectives, all other past participles are qualified by adverbs such as much, greatly, seriously, or excessively: he has been much (not very ) inconvenienced; she has been excessively (not too ) criticized
Discover More

Grammar Note

Past participles that have become established as adjectives can, like most English adjectives, be modified by the adverb very : a very driven person; We were very concerned for your safety. Very does not modify past participles that are clearly verbal; for example, The lid was very sealed is not an idiomatic construction, while The lid was very tightly sealed is. Sometimes confusion arises over whether a given past participle is adjectival and thus able to be modified by very without an intervening adverb. However, there is rarely any objection to the use of this intervening adverb, no matter how the past participle is functioning. Such use often occurs in edited writing: We were very much relieved to find the children asleep. They were very greatly excited by the news. I feel very badly cheated.
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of very1

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French verai ( French vrai ), from Vulgar Latin vērācus (unrecorded) for Latin vērāx “truthful,” equivalent to vēr(us) “true” (cognate with Old English wǣr, German wahr “true, correct”) + -āx adjectival suffix
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of very1

C13: from Old French verai true, from Latin vērax true, from vērus true
Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

  • all very well
  • what's the (the very) idea
Discover More

Example Sentences

It’s very shocking to find out that young Valya and her followers killed so many members of the Sisterhood to get into power.

"It is very exciting and I think this will become standard procedure in the future."

From BBC

They are very graphic and show bodies lined up in the courtyard of a mosque, covered with shrouds and blankets.

From BBC

He always had a very sardonic approach, says Geoffrey, and that was his interpretation, he adds.

From BBC

And I feel very grateful to Aardman for giving me so much time to build the character.

From BBC

Advertisement

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


Verwoerdvery high frequency









ApplySandwichStrip

pFad - (p)hone/(F)rame/(a)nonymizer/(d)eclutterfier!      Saves Data!


--- a PPN by Garber Painting Akron. With Image Size Reduction included!

Fetched URL: http://www.dictionary.com:80/browse/very

Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy