very

very is on the Basic English 850 List.

verse - very - vessel

very is one of the 1000 most common headwords.

various - very - video

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ˈvɛrɪ/, SAMPA: /"vEr\ɪ/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /ˈvɛri/, SAMPA: /"vEr\i/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

Adverb

Positive very

Comparative none

Superlative none

1. Much; quite. Using very makes the adjective or adverb stronger.
   • Synonyms: quite, extremely, incredibly, awfully, exceptionally, exceedingly, especially, dreadfully, extraordinarily, enormously, fantastically, vastly, tremendously, really, particularly, truly, terrifically, terribly, completely, entirely, totally, utterly, absolutely, fully and wholly
   • Antonyms: somewhat, slightly, vaguely, faintly, little, some, not at all, partly, barely, weakly, imperceptibly, indistinctly and not very

   He was very young.

Adjective

Positive very

Comparative none

Superlative none

1. Actual, same.
   • Synonyms: actual, same, self-same, identical and very same
   • Antonyms: different and not identical

   It was the very boy who helped me.

2. Exact.
   • Synonyms: exact and precise
   • Antonyms: inexact and imprecise

   This man is the very one for the job.

Related words

• even
• just