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
That's not to say that there aren't sticklers for the old way of doing things: leaving your phone at home or in the car, tucking it in your purse or pocket, turning it off, and at the very least, putting it on silent or vibrate mode.
—
Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 3 July 2025
The implication is that further military action would be undertaken, at the very least a new campaign of bombing and/or assassination.
—Michael Lynch, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Or, at the least, reassurance that there is still something left in your relationship.
—Eric Thomas, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 June 2025
Or, at the very least, automate but in a very sophisticated way, and use maximum personalization.
—Jason Foodman, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for at the (very) least
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Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 3 July 2025
The implication is that further military action would be undertaken, at the very least a new campaign of bombing and/or assassination.
—Michael Lynch, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Or, at the least, reassurance that there is still something left in your relationship.
—Eric Thomas, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 June 2025
Or, at the very least, automate but in a very sophisticated way, and use maximum personalization.
—Jason Foodman, Forbes.com, 25 June 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 10 Jul. 2025.
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