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

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Or, at the very least, automate but in a very sophisticated way, and use maximum personalization. Jason Foodman, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025 High-Quality Pantry Staples When in doubt, a practical choice, especially one that comes in pretty packaging, will always be appreciated—or at the very least, used. Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 20 June 2025 The Defender Trophy will probably, at the very least, produce a few interesting-looking survivor cars. Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 20 June 2025 That path, at the very least, would require the regime to abandon enrichment. Afshon Ostovar, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for at the (very) least

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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 1 Jul. 2025.

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