What does "very" mean?
True, real, actual.
Very
adj, adv, name
adj, adv, name ·2 syllables ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: True, real, actual.
- Grammar: very is listed as adj, adv, name.
- Nearest alternatives: a bit, a little, above a bit, absolutely.
- Useful contrasts: almost, merely, moderately.
- Usage evidence: My mom doesn't speak English very well.
How to use "very"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "very" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "very" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "very" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "very" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "very" is acting as adj, adv, name in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "a bit" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "very", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Adjective
- 1 True, real, actual. literary, not-comparable, usually
"The fierce hatred of a very woman."
- 2 The same; identical. not-comparable, usually
"He proposed marriage in the same restaurant, at the very table where they first met."
- 3 With limiting effect: mere. not-comparable, usually
"The very idea of climbing the ladder brings me out in a sweat. The very idea/thought!"
Adjective
- 1 precisely as stated wordnet
- 2 being the exact same one; not any other: wordnet
Adverb
- 1 To a great extent or degree. not-comparable
"That dress is very you."
- 2 Conforming to fact, reality or rule; true. not-comparable
- 3 Used to firmly establish that nothing else surpasses in some respect. not-comparable
"He was the very best runner there."
Adverb
- 1 used to give emphasis wordnet
- 2 precisely so wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname, variant of Verey.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"My mom doesn't speak English very well."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "very"?
Common synonyms include: a bit, a little, above a bit, absolutely, absolutely, abundantly.
How do you use "very" in a sentence?
My mom doesn't speak English very well.
Etymology
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. Distantly cognate with the 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-, mægen, sore, sin-, swith, (partially) wel.