much

American  

[muhch] / mʌtʃ /

adjective

more, most

1. great in quantity, measure, or degree.

   too much cake.

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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?

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.

much British  

/ 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

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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

much More Idioms  

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

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Etymology

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”

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Explanation

Use the adjective much to mean "a lot" or "a large amount." If you don't get much sleep the night before a big test, you don't get a lot. If you get too much sleep, you may sleep through your alarm and miss the test. Much is used as an adjective or adverb, but it always means a large quantity, extent, or degree. When something hurts very much, it's very painful, and when your friend says your gift is very much appreciated, she's emphasizing how happy it made her. The Middle English version of this word was muchel, "large," from the Old English micel, "great in amount or extent."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

much more most

Pacific Power’s rate-hike requests outpace much of the rest of the industry.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026

With Miller at the helm, it would be a surprise if the next two years turn out much better.

From Slate ● Nov. 6, 2026

Despite Mateo Carreras' early try, Ireland had far too much for Los Pumas in Dublin as they ran out 42-12 winners under the Friday night lights.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

Valuation tools aren’t much help with Elon Musk’s companies.

From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026

None of the facilities were adequate for anyone, much less people who were being treated for a serious illness.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly

He learns to be a better, more mature person through his newfound responsibilities—just like Dustin Hoffman did in “Kramer vs. Kramer,” Adam Sandler did in “Big Daddy” and plenty of others like them.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 7, 2026

In a Times profile on Skipp Townsend, Bennett, a onetime Rollin’ 60s member, said: “He is a Blood. He’s going into Crip neighborhood. There’s no more bigger sacrifice than that.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026

“I’m open to the idea that we should change enforcement—by focusing more on businesses that hire illegal labor, for instance,” Vance wrote.

From Slate ● Nov. 6, 2026

“This is what happens: we shift into a more sustainable velocity for the economy and for earnings,” said Dan Farley, the chief investment officer for U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026

A few months later, Joan was captured by the English and held captive for more than a year.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly

Here’s a tour through some of the most memorable movies about guys becoming better people through fatherhood.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 7, 2026

Dallaire, 56 years old, spent most of his career building the advertising business at Amazon and was doing the same at Instacart when Walmart recruited him five years ago as a rare outside senior hire.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026

Laura Miller makes the case that Edgar Allan Poe—whose work deliberately eschews many of the essential themes of American literature—is actually the most influential American writer of them all.

From Slate ● Nov. 6, 2026

Earlier in the night, Moyes equaled Harry Catterick's record for the most games as Everton manager - with 592 matches each.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

We were moved from the rez elementary school to the big central junior high at the same time most of us hit puberty, around eleven or twelve years old.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

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Related Words

• a great deal
• considerably
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• regularly
• very

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