much

[muhch]

adjective

more, most 

1. great in quantity, measure, or degree.

   too much cake.

noun

1. a great quantity, measure, or degree.

   Much of his research was unreliable.

2. a great, important, or notable thing or matter.

   The house is not much to look at.

adverb

more, most 

1. to a great extent or degree; greatly; far.

   to talk too much; much heavier.

2. nearly, approximately, or about.

   This is much like the others.

3. Slang.,  (used after an adjective, noun, or verb to form a question that comments on someone’s intense feelings or extreme actions in a way that is critical, sarcastic, teasing, etc.): Geeking out much?

   Jealous much?

   Geeking out much?

much

/ mʌtʃ /

determiner

1. 1. (usually used with a negative) a great quantity or degree of

      there isn't much honey left

   2. ( as pronoun )

      much has been learned from this

2. informal,  rather excessive

3. exactly that

   I suspected as much when I heard

4. See make of

5. not to any appreciable degree or extent

   he's not much of an actor really

6. informal,  of a low standard

   this beer is not up to much

7. (used with a negative) to have a high opinion of

   I don't think much of his behaviour

adverb

1. considerably

   they're much better now

2. practically; nearly (esp in the phrase much the same )

3. (usually used with a negative) often; a great deal

   it doesn't happen much in this country

4. even though; although

   much as I'd like to, I can't come

adjective

1. (predicative; usually used with a negative) impressive or important

   this car isn't much

Word History and Origins

Origin of much¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English muche, moche, shortened variant of muchel, mochel, Old English mycel; replacing Middle English miche(l), Old English micel “great, much” ( mickle ), cognate with Old Norse mikill, Gothic mikils, Greek mégal-, expanded stem of mégas “great”

Word History and Origins

Origin of much¹

Old English mycel; related to Old English micel great, Old Saxon mikil, Gothic mikils; compare also Latin magnus, Greek megas

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. not so much, not.

2. much as,

   1. almost the same as.

      We need exercise, much as we need nourishment.

   2. however much.

      Much as she wanted to stay at the party, she had to leave.

3. too much,

   1. excellent; great.

      His band is too much, especially live in concert.

   2. overwhelming or intolerable.

      His memories of the life they had together were just too much.

   3. outrageous; extreme.

      She's too much—but so hilarious!

4. make much of,

   1. to treat, represent, or consider as of great importance.

      to make much of trivial matters.

   2. to treat with great consideration; show fondness for; flatter.

More idioms and phrases containing much

• (much) sought after
• as much
• as much as
• make much of
• not miss a trick (much)
• not think much of
• pretty much
• so much
• so much for
• so much the better
• take it (just so much)
• take on (too much)
• too much of a good thing
• without so much as

Example Sentences

From parents' chats to tenants' groups, much of daily life runs through them.

From BBC

Although the award was massive and unprecedented, it could have been much worse, according to some calculations.

From Los Angeles Times

It returned a result of SPF 4, something that shocked Choice so much it commissioned a second test that produced a similar reading.

From BBC

After dominating the domestic news agenda for much of the summer with pronouncements on illegal immigration, Reform's 2025 conference has undoubtedly been overshadowed by the Rayner reshuffle drama.

From BBC

“I wish I could explain in words how much I love that kind of stuff,” Slash says.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• a great deal www.thesaurus.com
• considerably 
• exceptionally 
• extremely 
• frequently 
• highly 
• indeed 
• often 
• regularly 
• very