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

The automaker bet big on hybrids as much of the U.S. industry attempted a pivot to EVs, which so far has paid off for the Japanese giant.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

Experts told the BBC that Tesla drivers are unlikely to see much drastic change in the near term, even if the two companies combine.

From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026

"However this is much, much bigger than the state of Maine," added the 80-year-old.

From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026

Liverpool were woeful for much of the first half as they trailed Villarreal by two goals, but Ngumoha took responsibility and began to turn the tide.

From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026

I’m not sure why they’re shaking— maybe he’s nervous about the interview, or maybe he’s had too much coffee.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

‘Role Models,’ ‘That’s So Raven’ actor Bobb’e J. Thompson sentenced to federal prison for more than 2 years.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026

The recent Roadster showcase suggests SpaceX technology could be pulled into future Tesla products, which could attract more customers, said Tu Le, the founder of advisory firm Sino Auto Insights.

From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026

Despite the danger, the parents still purchased Benson a “faster and more powerful E-Moto,” the district attorney said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026

Pairing Tesla's self-driving technology and robotics with SpaceX's AI and satellite network could result in more capable vehicles, Sheehan said.

From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026

“I’ve learned the West is wild. Filled with more foes than expected. But good people, too.”

From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Maine is America's most heating oil-dependent state, and residents expressed outrage at how fixed-income households could suffer this winter.

From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026

Still, the resilience of oil flows marks a shift in the battle over the world’s most important energy chokepoint.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

The Independent considers an inquiry which found that government failures in care settings created an environment that allowed Covid to "spread like wildfire" among the most vulnerable.

From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026

But it's at night, in the quiet darkness, that mother-of-three Dianyra Eka Nastiti grows most fearful.

From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026

You hang from your knees, arms spread wide, opening yourself to the place that feels most like home.

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

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Related Words

• a great deal
• considerably
• exceptionally
• extremely
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• highly
• indeed
• often
• regularly
• very

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