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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
Market Pantry Tomato Ketchup Several testers noted that Market Pantry's Tomato Ketchup from Target had a very tomato-forward taste. Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 31 Jan. 2026 Filmed in striking black and white, the film's unsettling power comes from its blending of an alien-like sensibility and our very human subconscious fears. Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
As the 70 Trionfo shows, it might have been baked in from the very beginning. Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 30 Jan. 2026 Such startups will be, by their very nature, less labor intensive than today’s companies. Joe McKendrick, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for very
Recent Examples of Synonyms for very
Adverb
  • Where these winds coincide with heavy snow, blizzard conditions are possible, with near-zero visibility and extremely dangerous travel, particularly along the Outer Banks of North Carolina and into southeast Virginia.
    Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Therefore, telling the story in graphic form on behalf of Ukrainians themselves, explaining the preconditions for Russia’s attempts to erase Ukraine as a sovereign country and Ukrainians as an ethnic group, became extremely relevant.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Adverb
  • Chappell Roan always makes a statement on the red carpet, but this is really something else.
    Pamela Vázquez, Glamour, 2 Feb. 2026
  • He's really trimmed the fat from a lot of his game.
    Scott Fowler The Charlotte Observer, Arkansas Online, 2 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Those same diners may not know the story of the woman behind the fast casual chain.
    Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2026
  • Olson says even if the Minnesota immigration crackdown eases, these same concerns could arise elsewhere.
    Meg Anderson, NPR, 1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Once viewed as mere support cells for neurons, astrocytes are now thought to help tune brain circuits and thereby control overall brain state or mood — say, our level of alertness, anxiousness, or apathy.
    Ingrid Wickelgren, Quanta Magazine, 30 Jan. 2026
  • When corporations and other funds began to adopt Bitcoin in growing numbers, BTC’s demand grew beyond mere retail and speculation.
    Ethan Stone, IndyStar, 30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Dell is finally good at something—but as her behavior becomes riskier and a shadowy troll threatens to expose her dark past, Dell must reckon with what her digital life ignores, and what real redemption means.
    Danielle Parker, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
  • When boys are asked to show up consistently for real people, academic readiness and emotional readiness develop side by side.
    Dr. Liz Doe Stone, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • In such a world, simple answers won’t do; only the courage to ask the hardest questions will push us forward.
    Daphne Koller, Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Knox, who committed to wrestle at Rutgers University, and his dad were initially charged with simple assault for purposely/knowingly causing bodily injury after a brawl broke out at Collingswood High School on February.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Adverb
  • San Dieguito’s Director of Teaching Learning and Education Brieahna Weatherford said getting to this point has been incredibly challenging, the culmination of two years of work.
    Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026
  • At liftoff, there’s this incredibly gorgeous orange glow that came out of the bottom of the launch pad.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Adverb
  • Las Cruces sits quietly in the southern stretch of New Mexico, framed by the Organ Mountains on one side and vast desert sky on the other, setting the scene for a truly romantic weekend soaking in Southwestern culture.
    Ronny Maye, Essence, 1 Feb. 2026
  • This is a powerful time to reassess your finances, recognize your talents and make sure your income is in alignment with what truly matters to you.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Very.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/very. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.

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