much 1 of 3

adjective

ˈməch How to pronounce much (audio)
Definition of muchnext
as in significant
having great meaning or lasting effect actually, nothing much changed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

much

2 of 3

adverb

1
as in very
to a great degree much gratified by the favorable response to her novel

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in highly
to a large extent or degree the new decorations made me much happier

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in almost
very close to but not completely today the old neighborhood looks much as it did years ago

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in often
many times I don't do that much anymore

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in about
close to but not exactly he behaves much the same as I did at that age

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

much

3 of 3

noun

as in plenty
a considerable amount much of what people think they know about words is inaccurate or downright false

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of much
Adjective
The city has spent much of the moratorium getting up to speed on the issue through research and meetings with experts. — Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 29 Sep. 2026 On the court, Austin Reaves really doesn’t have much left to prove. — Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
Adverb
That makes the current setup more constructive than late May, when XLK was coming off a nearly parabolic two-month run and appeared much more extended. — Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 27 Sep. 2026 Kaminski and Pew share that overhead lighting has become much more minimal and recessive. — Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Sep. 2026
Noun
With Aoki cruising, the offense didn’t have to do much, but the Trojans built momentum as the game progressed. — Shotgun Spratling, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2025 Daniels couldn’t do much, but tried to provide a comforting voice. — Andy Wacker, Outside Online, 18 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for much
Recent Examples of Synonyms for much
  1. significant
  2. very
  3. highly
  4. almost
  5. often
  6. about
  7. ton
  8. important
Adjective
  • Repeating that process places significant stress on components, increasing operational and capital costs due to the risk of failure, maintenance requirements and downtime.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2026
  • On a longer flight, having some additional neck support can make a significant difference.
    — Julie Rousseau, Travel + Leisure, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of significant
Adverb
  • Here, a very dear, longtime local friend officiated the service with just a few attendees which included a blacktip reef shark and a colony of marine iguanas.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026
  • My leadership is much more about providing a very clear direction and making sure that there’s a high degree of autonomy for people to feel empowered and enabled to do so.
    — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of very
Adverb
  • The glitzy brand, which started with its Singapore flagship in 1887, is known for its meticulous opulence and highly personalized service.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Lilly may face more questions from investors and the medical community about how well patients tolerate and stay on the highly effective combination therapy.
    — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of highly
Adverb
  • Season three of Nobody Wants This is almost upon us, and Lupe has been making her rounds from New York Fashion Week to the red carpet, including while wearing a pair of these exact Talbot jeans.
    — Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2026
  • More importantly, bonds are also almost certainly bigger than the traditional banking system—and probably crossed that mark sometime in the past decade, for the first time since both were invented a millennium ago.
    — Robin Wigglesworth, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of almost
Adverb
  • It is often referred to as the last colonial conflict in Africa.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Others who express hesitation or opposition to bans often cite the risk of sending people who are dependent on 7-OH into withdrawal, and potentially leading them to other, more dangerous substances.
    — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of often
Adverb
  • The chips are power-hungry (a ChatGPT AI query consumes about ten times as much energy as a normal Google search) and also generate a lot of heat, which requires cooling systems.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 27 Sep. 2026
  • The facility was decommissioned over years starting in 1975 and shut for about 40 years.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of about
Noun
  • Every ton of greenhouse gas that humans can avoid releasing today reduces how much ice Antarctica loses this century, and the benefit – slower and less sea-level rise – lasts for hundreds of years.
    — Robert Kopp, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Gower pointed specifically to China and Poland, which purchased 20 metric tons and 8 tons of gold, respectively, during July.
    — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of ton
Adjective
  • The important distinction is whether the gasket is merely seeping or actually leaking.
    — John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs And Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The summit produced no major breakthroughs, but some experts say the steps toward greater cooperation were still considered important, allowing the two powers to set up working groups that could prevent problems from escalating.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of important

Phrases Containing much

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Mrs. Grundys
much
much as
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Cite this Entry

“Much.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/much. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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