as much as

Idioms  

1. The same quantity as. As with as many (def. 2), the meaning of much as a large amount here is qualified by what follows. For example, Please help yourself to as much of the meant as you want indicates whatever amount you wish. [Late 1100s]

2. Also, however much, much as . Even though, no matter how much, as in As much as I hate to, I must stay home tonight , or However much it hurts, you ought to admit you were wrong , or Much as Karen would love to see us, she can't get out of her prior commitment . [Late 1500s]

3. Also, so much as . In effect, nearly the same as, as in Mom as much as told Jane she couldn't go , or The clerk so much as accused the customer of shoplifting . These expressions intensify the meaning of the verb and indicate that the action is unexpected. [Late 1300s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

as much as

As Thaler and Johnson wrote: “Until the winnings are completely depleted, losses are coded as reductions in a gain, as if losing some of ‘their money’ doesn’t hurt as much as losing one’s own cash.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

Worse, did it cost as much as — or more than — your rent?

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026

We are not surprised at least as much as we are.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026

He said if individuals classified as threats could not be detained, their freedom of movement should be restricted "as much as possible."

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

She told us that Marlene needed her to be there with her as much as possible, that she had been off her food and depressed ever since her mother had died.

From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo

Related Words

• approximately
• basically
• essentially
• morally
• nearly
• virtually