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
There were plenty of mixed emotions this week in response to the closure of Oscar-winning production company Participant, and at the very least the industry has agreed something has come to an end.
—
Matt Donnelly, Variety, 19 Apr. 2024
All options must be explored — at the very least to improve, but really to give Curry another shot at a title run.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2024
Signs of Sandworm Mandiant found multiple strong clues that Cyber Army of Russia was, at the very least, created with support from Sandworm if not entirely controlled by that unit of the GRU.
—Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 17 Apr. 2024
Blemishes have a frustrating way of showing up at the least opportune moments.
—Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 15 Apr. 2024
Or at the very least be something of a leather jacket influencer.
—Alice Newbold, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024
Beyoncé is just mixing the pot, asking us to consider, at the very least, a broader definition of country.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
The idea is — at the very least — worth contemplating given the contentiousness that has beleaguered too many forms of discourse today.
—Byron Harlan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2024
Drake, for at the very least since the turn of the decade, is far more a popstar than anything else.
—Camellia Burris, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024
Matt Donnelly, Variety, 19 Apr. 2024
All options must be explored — at the very least to improve, but really to give Curry another shot at a title run.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2024
Signs of Sandworm Mandiant found multiple strong clues that Cyber Army of Russia was, at the very least, created with support from Sandworm if not entirely controlled by that unit of the GRU.
—Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 17 Apr. 2024
Blemishes have a frustrating way of showing up at the least opportune moments.
—Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 15 Apr. 2024
Or at the very least be something of a leather jacket influencer.
—Alice Newbold, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024
Beyoncé is just mixing the pot, asking us to consider, at the very least, a broader definition of country.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
The idea is — at the very least — worth contemplating given the contentiousness that has beleaguered too many forms of discourse today.
—Byron Harlan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2024
Drake, for at the very least since the turn of the decade, is far more a popstar than anything else.
—Camellia Burris, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'at the (very) least.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near 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 24 Apr. 2024.
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