very

veryadverb

American /ˈvɛr.i/ British /ˈver.i/

not gradable

very commondefining vocabulary

to a great degreeto a great degree; extremely
Very goes before an adjective or an adverb and makes it stronger: very big, very quickly. It is not used before a verb (I like it very much, not I very like it) or before a comparative (much better, not very better), and it is not usually combined with adjectives that already mean the extreme, such as huge or excellent, which take really or absolutely instead. Not very before an adjective is a soft way of saying the opposite: not very good means bad.
not gradable [not gradable]
- It's very cold this morning.
- Thank you very much for your help. (very much after a verb)
- She speaks very quickly.
- The film wasn't very good. (not very: a polite way of saying bad)
Collocations
adverb + adjective very good, very big, very important, very happy, very tired, very few
phrase very much, very well, not very, very soon, very often
Synonyms extremely (extremely is stronger); really (really is more informal and can also go before a verb)
Compare too (too says more than is good or wanted; very only says a lot); quite (in American English quite is close to very; in British English it usually means fairly, but completely before an adjective that already means the extreme (quite amazing, quite perfect))
for emphasisused before the -est form of an adjective, such as best or biggest, or before first, last, or next, to make it stronger
not gradable [not gradable]
- This is the very best coffee in town.
- We met on the very first day of school.
- This is the very last chance you'll get.
- I'll see you on the very next corner.
Collocations
phrase the very best, the very first, the very last, the very next day

Phrases

very much

a lot; to a great degree

Very much comes after the verb and its object, or before a past participle: very much appreciated. It is the way to strengthen a verb, because very alone cannot go before a verb.

I like the new apartment very much.
Thank you very much for coming.
Are you pleased with it? Very much so. (very much so: a strong yes)

Word family

very (the very end, at that very moment: exactly the one named, and nothing else)

Usage

Very is also an adjective meaning exactly the one named (at the very end, this very moment, the very idea!, my very own room, the very same street), with its own entry: very (adjective). Some writing guides treat very as the sign of a weak word: instead of very big, a stronger adjective such as huge may read better.

Common mistakes

This one is very better. This one is much better.
Very is not used before a comparative; use much, a lot, or far.

I very like this song. I really like this song.
Very cannot go before a verb; use really, or put very much after the verb: I like this song very much.

The idea was very unique. The idea was unique.
Unique means one of a kind, so it cannot come in degrees; really or truly can be used for emphasis instead.

For translators

Meaning across languages Very is a pure degree word. Some languages use the same word for very and for really or truly; in English, really can replace very, but very cannot replace really before a verb: I really like it.

Grammar trap Very goes before adjectives and adverbs, never before verbs or comparatives: I like it very much, much better. It is not usually combined with adjectives that already express an extreme (huge, freezing, perfect), which take really or absolutely instead.

Pronunciation trap The first vowel is the short e of bed, and the v is made with the top teeth on the lower lip; it must not become b or w. The final y is a short ee.