# at the very least

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/at-the-very-least
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

at least; as an absolute minimum; emphatic form of at the least.

## Examples

- At the very least, you should call your mother today.
- The project will take three days at the very least, so do not expect it finished by tomorrow.
- He realized that at the very least, he owed them a sincere apology for his lack of professionalism during the meeting.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.