much

[ muhch ]

See synonyms for: much more most on Thesaurus.com

adjective,more, most.

great in quantity, measure, or degree: too much cake.

noun

a great quantity, measure, or degree: Much of his research was unreliable.
a great, important, or notable thing or matter: The house is not much to look at.

adverb,more, most.

to a great extent or degree; greatly; far: to talk too much; much heavier.
nearly, approximately, or about: This is much like the others.

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.): Jealous much?Geeking out much?

Idioms about much

make much of,
- to treat, represent, or consider as of great importance: to make much of trivial matters.
- to treat with great consideration; show fondness for; flatter.
much as,
- almost the same as: We need exercise, much as we need nourishment.
- however much: Much as she wanted to stay at the party, she had to leave.

not so much, Informal. not (def. 3).
too much, Slang.
- excellent; great: His band is too much, especially live in concert.
- overwhelming or intolerable: His memories of the life they had together were just too much.
- outrageous; extreme: She's too much—but so hilarious!

Origin of much

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” (cf. mickle), cognate with Old Norse mikill, Gothic mikils, Greek mégal-, expanded stem of mégas “great”

Words that may be confused with much

much , very

Words Nearby much

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use much in a sentence

However much we gossip about heterosexual couples with large age gaps, we at least refrain from calling them sex offenders.
Freaking Out About Age Gaps in Gay Relationships Is Homophobic | Samantha Allen | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
Between 25 and 30, you’re trying to decide how much longer before you start growing a beard and calling yourself ‘Daddy.
Freaking Out About Age Gaps in Gay Relationships Is Homophobic | Samantha Allen | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
Her style, much like her diminutive nickname, is best described as “Hamptons twee”—preppy and peppy.
How Taryn Toomey’s ‘The Class’ Became New York’s Latest Fitness Craze | Lizzie Crocker | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
As far as I can tell, this magazine spent as much time making fun of French politicians as it did of Muslims or Islam.
Harry Shearer on The Dangerous Business of Satire | Lloyd Grove | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
much of the media coverage around eating disorders surrounds celebrities and models.
How Skinny Is Too Skinny? Israel Bans ‘Underweight’ Models | Carrie Arnold | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST

You would not think it too much to set the whole province in flames so that you could have your way with this wretched child.
St. Martin's Summer | Rafael Sabatini
Edna did not reveal so much as all this to Madame Ratignolle that summer day when they sat with faces turned to the sea.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories | Kate Chopin
He was too drowsy to hold the thought more than a moment in his mind, much less to reflect upon it.
The Wave | Algernon Blackwood
In the drawing-room things went on much as they always do in country drawing-rooms in the hot weather.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James Wills
I hate to be long at my toilette at any time; but to delay much in such a matter while travelling is folly.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846 | Various

British Dictionary definitions for much

much

/ (mʌtʃ) /

determiner

- (usually used with a negative) a great quantity or degree of: there isn't much honey left
- (as pronoun): much has been learned from this
a bit much informal rather excessive

as much exactly that: I suspected as much when I heard
make much of See make of (def. 4)
not much of not to any appreciable degree or extent: he's not much of an actor really
not up to much informal of a low standard: this beer is not up to much
think much of (used with a negative) to have a high opinion of: I don't think much of his behaviour

adverb

considerably: they're much better now
practically; nearly (esp in the phrase much the same)

(usually used with a negative) often; a great deal: it doesn't happen much in this country
much as or as much as even though; although: much as I'd like to, I can't come

adjective

(predicative; usually used with a negative) impressive or important: this car isn't much

Origin of much

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

See also more, most

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with much

much

In addition to the idioms beginning with much

much ado about nothing
much as
much less
much sought after

also see:

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
(much) sought after
take it (just so much)
take on (too much)
too much of a good thing
without so much as

Browse