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Definition of verynext
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very

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adjective

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as in same
being one and not another we stayed in the very hotel my parents stayed in for their honeymoon

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word very different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of very are equal, equivalent, identical, same, and selfsame. While all these words mean "not different or not differing from one another," very, like selfsame, may imply identity, or, like same may imply likeness in kind.

the very point I was trying to make

When is equal a more appropriate choice than very?

The words equal and very can be used in similar contexts, but equal implies being identical in value, magnitude, or some specified quality.

equal shares in the business

When might equivalent be a better fit than very?

In some situations, the words equivalent and very are roughly equivalent. However, equivalent implies amounting to the same thing in worth or significance.

two houses equivalent in market value

In what contexts can identical take the place of very?

The words identical and very are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, identical may imply selfsameness or suggest absolute agreement in all details.

identical results

How are the words same and selfsame related as synonyms of very?

Same may imply and selfsame always implies that the things under consideration are one thing and not two or more things.

took the same route
derived from the selfsame source

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 very
Adverb
But very few people seem particularly interested in what happens when those guardrails create friction, limit access or force uncomfortable tradeoffs. Demetri Giannikopoulos, Forbes.com, 20 June 2026 Today's starter is Colin Rea, who has not been very good this month. David Troy, FOXNews.com, 20 June 2026
Adjective
At a time when SpaceX is sending stock markets around the world into a frenzy, the horse remains firmly at the very heart of Hermès. Pierre Groppo, Vanity Fair, 19 June 2026 There is one 300-room hotel at the very front of the park. Eve Chen, USA Today, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for very
Recent Examples of Synonyms for very
Adverb
  • Canada and Qatar drew their first matches, making this an extremely important opportunity for their hopes of advancing out of the group stage.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 June 2026
  • All had extremely low omega-3 levels and at least one risk factor for dementia, such as obesity, sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure or cholesterol.
    Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 18 June 2026
Adverb
  • Steve Toussaint said something really great.
    Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 22 June 2026
  • Also, the experience of traveling with locals is something that really added to the experience.
    Dana Taylor, USA Today, 22 June 2026
Adjective
  • Rhaenyra will not only have to contend with the death of yet another child, but also that same child’s decision to betray her and lock her away in a room.
    Matt Minton, Variety, 22 June 2026
  • Since formally leaving the EU, those same potatoes must now pass customs checks and health inspections before being allowed to even cross the border into France.
    Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 22 June 2026
Adjective
  • Lee, 31, exclaimed, and the pair, mere moments after meeting, snapped a selfie as Gonzalez, 28, presented his Korean bulgogi beef quesadilla to the camera with a grin.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
  • In ordering Anthropic to obtain US approval for foreign nationals to use its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick expanded the boundaries of laws governing transfers of sensitive technology to target the mere usage of cutting-edge AI models.
    Bloomberg, Mercury News, 19 June 2026
Adjective
  • But what if the real story is something much bigger?
    Dana Taylor, USA Today, 23 June 2026
  • The investment bank was less enthusiastic about gold as a hedge, noting that higher real yields and a stronger dollar have weighed on bullion prices, while gold options have become relatively expensive compared with equity and rates derivatives.
    Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 23 June 2026
Adjective
  • The questions Campbell needs to answer are simple.
    Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 25 June 2026
  • Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple.
    Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 25 June 2026
Adverb
  • This butter-yellow tunic feels cheerful, airy, and incredibly chic for summer.
    Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 24 June 2026
  • The producers are amazing, the writers are amazing, the director's amazing and Netflix has been nothing but incredibly supportive.
    Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 23 June 2026
Adverb
  • But unlike those three, he’s never been cast truly as a leading man.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 21 June 2026
  • But the paper world — the construction of entire paper sets and environments — only truly began for me around 2014.
    Kevin Giraud, Variety, 21 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Very.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/very. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.

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