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. a bit much informal.
   rather excessive
3. as much
   exactly that

   I suspected as much when I heard

4. make much of
   See make of
5. not much of
   not to any appreciable degree or extent

   he's not much of an actor really

6. not up to much informal.
   of a low standard

   this beer is not up to much

7. think much of
   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. much as or as much as
   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. 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.
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. not so much, Informal. not ( def 3 ).
4. too much, Slang.
   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!

More idioms and phrases containing much

• 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

Example Sentences

It also provided information about the relative abundance of every mRNA copy, which gives clues as to how much a gene is expressed in different tissues and times.

From Science Daily

Teal, who also appeared on stage in “Newsies,” “Sweeney Todd” and “Rent,” first starred in the short film “First Memory” and spent much of his career in supporting roles.

From Los Angeles Times

With Rife heading off a lucrative year and into his Stay Golden Tour, it’s clear that for him, comedy has become much more.

From Los Angeles Times

But much depends on how much profit margin they have, especially if high tariffs are implemented on all imported goods, not just ones from China.

From Salon

The final determination of how much water companies can charge their customers for the next five years is expected on 19 December.

From BBC

Related Words

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