VERY

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does very mean? 

• VERY (adjective)
  The adjective VERY has 2 senses:

1. precisely as stated

2. being the exact same one; not any other:

  Familiarity information: VERY used as an adjective is rare.

• VERY (adverb)
  The adverb VERY has 2 senses:

1. used as intensifiers; 'real' is sometimes used informally for 'really'; 'rattling' is informal

2. precisely so

  Familiarity information: VERY used as an adverb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• VERY (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Precisely as stated

Context example:

the very center of town

Similar:

precise (sharply exact or accurate or delimited)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Being the exact same one; not any other:

Synonyms:

identical; selfsame; very

Context example:

the very man I want to see

Similar:

same (same in identity)

• VERY (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Used as intensifiers; 'real' is sometimes used informally for 'really'; 'rattling' is informal

Synonyms:

rattling; real; really; very

Context example:

a rattling good yarn

Sense 2

Meaning:

Precisely so

Context example:

he expected the very opposite

 Context examples 

One day was very like another.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Yes, sir, my own views are very different.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But the little woman evidently expected her to answer; so Dorothy said, with hesitation, "You are very kind, but there must be some mistake. I have not killed anything."

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

The decision to end a pregnancy is very personal.

(Abortion, NIH)

“My dear,” their considerate aunt would reply, “it is very bad, but you must not expect everybody to be as forward and quick at learning as yourself.”

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

So Mobits come back to this village, and he is very fat.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Very true, my dear; and if we knew anybody we would join them directly.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

“I am very glad to have had your opinion, sir,” said he.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“That is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in London for the present?”

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It did not seem to him from what he could see of it to be such a very wicked place after all.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)