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ver·y
 very
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- 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
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| 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 |
| related words: |
all, far, full |
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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| definition 4: |
mere.
The very sight of him makes me laugh.- synonyms:
- mere
- similar words:
- least, plain, simple
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| definition 5: |
actual.
She was in the very act of stealing it when I walked in.- synonyms:
- actual
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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.
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.
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