very

¹very

adj \ˈver-ē, ˈve-rē\

veri·erveri·est

Definition of VERY

1

a : properly entitled to the name or designation : true <the fierce hatred of a very woman — J. M. Barrie> b : actual, real <the very blood and bone of our grammar — H. L. Smith †1972> c : simple, plain <in very truth>

2

a : exact, precise <the very heart of the city> b : exactly suitable or necessary <the very thing for the purpose>

3

a : absolute, utter <the veriest fool alive> b : unqualified, sheer <the very shame of it>

4

—used as an intensive especially to emphasize identity <before my very eyes>

5

: mere, bare <the very thought terrified him>

6

: being the same one : selfsame <the very man I saw>

7

: special, particular <the very essence of truth is plainness and brightness — John Milton>

Examples of VERY

1. <we stayed in the very hotel my parents stayed in for their honeymoon>
2. <the very thought of having to go through that again is scary>

Origin of VERY

Middle English verray, verry, from Anglo-French verai, from Vulgar Latin *veracus, alteration of Latin verac-, verax truthful, from verus true; akin to Old English wǣr true, Old High German wāra trust, care, Greek ēra (accusative) favor

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to VERY

Synonyms: identical, selfsame, same

Antonyms: another, different, other

Related Words: absolute, all-out, arrant, out-and-out, outright, pure, sheer, simple, stark, total, unadulterated, unalloyed, unmitigated, unqualified, utter; alone, lone, only, singular, sole, solitary, solo, unique

Near Antonyms: differentiable, discriminable, disparate, dissimilar, distinct, distinctive, distinguishable, diverse, unalike, unlike, varied, various

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with VERY

aerie, airy, berry, bury, Carey, cherry, chary, dairy, Derry, faerie, fairy, ferry, Gerry, glairy, glary, hairy, Jerry, kerry, Mary, marry, merry, nary, perry, prairie, query, scary, serry, Shari, sherry, skerry, terry, Terry, vary, wary, wherry