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very

ver·y

very

 
pronunciation:
ve ri
parts of speech:
adverb, adjective
features:
Word Combinations (adjective), Note, Homophone Note
part of speech: adverb
definition 1: to a great extent; in a high degree; extremely.
very sad
 
synonyms:
awfully, darn, especially, exceedingly, extremely, quite, so, terribly, uncommonly
antonyms:
slightly
similar words:
awful, damn, damned, doggone, downright, most, plenty, precious, pretty, real
definition 2: used to intensify a superlative or to stress an adjective or identifier.
the very best student in the classhis very own carthe very same one
 
part of speech: adjective
inflections: verier, veriest
definition 1: precise; exact.
Getting sick was the very thing we had hoped to avoid on our travels.
synonyms:
absolute, exact, express, precise
similar words:
explicit, ideal, particular, specific
definition 2: absolute; extreme.
Their house is at the very end of the street.There is a flag at the very top of the mountain.
synonyms:
absolute, extreme
similar words:
utter
definition 3: same.
My great grandparents were also married in this very church.I realized suddenly that this was the very woman who had sold us the tickets yesterday.
synonyms:
identical, same
similar words:
selfsame
definition 4: mere.
The very sight of him makes me laugh.
synonyms:
mere
similar words:
least, plain, simple
definition 5: actual.
She was in the very act of stealing it when I walked in.
synonyms:
actual
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
very, so, or too?
Very is used to express a high degree of some quality. So can be used to express a high degree of some quality when you use it with strong emotion. So does not express a high degree by itself. We use too when there is something that cannot or does not happen because of the degree of some quality.
Compare:
  • The soup is very hot.
  • The soup is so hot!
  • The soup is too hot to eat.
Homophone Note
Are you looking for the word vary (to change or be different)? Some people say the words very and vary in exactly the same way, but these two words have different meanings.