at the (very) least
idiom
—used to indicate the least thing that is true, acceptable, desirable, or certain to happen
He wanted to win the race, or at the least, to finish second.
It will change your life or, at the very least, teach you something new.
At the very least, she deserves to be heard.
Examples of at the (very) least in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The team's devoted fans are starving for it to, at the very least, make a deep playoff run sometime soon.
—
Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Aug. 2025
For anyone yearning for a partner who shares — or at the very least, supports — their interest in fashion, Bowers has a simple message: Do not settle.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 23 Aug. 2025
Harbaugh has said Likely might be able to play Week 1 and, at the very least, should return relatively early in the regular season.
—Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
Beyond the ick factor, Tolliday also noted that leaving your luggage on the floor can create an organizational nightmare, echoing Carter's suggestion to put your clothes away in the closet—or at the very least place your luggage on a hard surface to reduce the risk of picking up potential bed bugs.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for at the (very) least
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Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Aug. 2025
For anyone yearning for a partner who shares — or at the very least, supports — their interest in fashion, Bowers has a simple message: Do not settle.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 23 Aug. 2025
Harbaugh has said Likely might be able to play Week 1 and, at the very least, should return relatively early in the regular season.
—Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
Beyond the ick factor, Tolliday also noted that leaving your luggage on the floor can create an organizational nightmare, echoing Carter's suggestion to put your clothes away in the closet—or at the very least place your luggage on a hard surface to reduce the risk of picking up potential bed bugs.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for at the (very) least
Cite this Entry
“At the (very) least.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20the%20%28very%29%20least. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.
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