very 1 of 2

adverb

ˈver-ē How to pronounce very (audio)
Definition of verynext
1
as in extremely
to a great degree that was a very brave thing to do

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in really
in actual fact the very same thing happened to me

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

very

2 of 2

adjective

1
as in same
being one and not another we stayed in the very hotel my parents stayed in for their honeymoon

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mere
being this and no more the very thought of having to go through that again is scary

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in real
existing in fact and not merely as a possibility tourism is the very lifeblood of this community—the town would surely die without it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in simple
having no exceptions or restrictions the very nerve of that woman—telling me how to raise my own children

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word very different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of very are equal, equivalent, identical, same, and selfsame. While all these words mean "not different or not differing from one another," very, like selfsame, may imply identity, or, like same may imply likeness in kind.

the very point I was trying to make

When is equal a more appropriate choice than very?

The words equal and very can be used in similar contexts, but equal implies being identical in value, magnitude, or some specified quality.

equal shares in the business

When might equivalent be a better fit than very?

In some situations, the words equivalent and very are roughly equivalent. However, equivalent implies amounting to the same thing in worth or significance.

two houses equivalent in market value

In what contexts can identical take the place of very?

The words identical and very are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, identical may imply selfsameness or suggest absolute agreement in all details.

identical results

How are the words same and selfsame related as synonyms of very?

Same may imply and selfsame always implies that the things under consideration are one thing and not two or more things.

took the same route
derived from the selfsame source

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of very
Adverb
Heat illness already frequently harms outdoor workers with very little protection in place for their safety. —Georgia Christakis, Sun Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2025 Fluke is a very tender fish with a lot of sweetness. —Carole Kotkin, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
The enterprises that will continue gaining value from enterprise AI will only be those that implement security guardrails from the very beginning. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025 The woman has almost completely repressed them, revisiting them only at the very end of her life. —Ian Johnson, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for very
Recent Examples of Synonyms for very
  1. extremely
  2. really
  3. same
  4. mere
  5. real
  6. simple
  7. incredibly
  8. truly
Adverb
  • The present is extremely uninspiring, but the future is … well, maybe not bright, but at least mildly luminous.
    — Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Sudden hearing loss can be caused by proximity to an extremely loud sound like an explosion.
    — Uma Raja, Sun Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of extremely
Adverb
  • Drinking more water really is key to glowing skin, an extra few hours of sleep does more… Accessorize Pearl Jam Pearls are back, as one look at the Paris runways will attest.
    — Michael Odell, Air Mail, 10 Apr. 2025
  • In Season 4, the challenges don’t quite stack up, and there’s a reluctance on the creators’ part to really sink their teeth into the whirlwind of producing late-night TV.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of really
Adjective
  • In that same YouGov poll from 2024, more than a third of respondents admitted to having disagreements with others about dishwashing best practices.
    — Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 14 Apr. 2025
  • He had been brutally stabbed to death at his Los Angeles home while smoking a cigar on that same patio.
    — Greg Fisher, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of same
Adjective
  • Leaders who appreciate the worth of their team and respect others will gain far more than mere obedience.
    — Chris Gallagher, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
  • The market doesn't much care about the motivations — the mere fact that the conversations are happening at all is causing stocks to surge after days of uncertainty and mounting recession fears.
    — Ben Berkowitz, Axios, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of mere
Adjective
  • That for real was like holding the mirror up to myself.
    — Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 15 Apr. 2025
  • Back here in the real world, other Under 30 honorees are harnessing AI to tackle important problems.
    — Alexandra York, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Definition of real
Adjective
  • The simplest way, Studholme suggests, is to use one group of neutrals or a tone on tone graduation of the same color, such as Pigeon, Blue Gray, Muzzle and Cromarty from Farrow & Ball, for example.
    — Ariel Okin, Vogue, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Asked who’d buy these gold cards during an Oval Office meeting with reporters in February, Trump had a simple answer.
    — Meehika Barua, HubSpot, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of simple
Adverb
  • An incredibly realistic short almond nail set that may just have your friends fooled.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 14 Apr. 2025
  • McIlroy came out incredibly hot, turning a two-shot deficit to Justin Rose into a three-shot lead in just over an hour.
    — David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of incredibly
Adverb
  • Use your brew time to truly take a break from the screen and enjoy your beverage.
    — Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
  • But has the Red Sox superstar truly changed his tune?
    — Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of truly

Browse Nearby Words

verve
very
vespers
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Very.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/very. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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