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much

adv. · pron.
US //ˈmətʃ// UK //mˈʌtʃ// much
  1. 1 to a great degree (adv.)
    A2 Elementary

    to a great degree or very often.

    an adverb of degree or frequency used to intensify verbs or adjectives.

    Example

    Thank you very much for helping me with my heavy bags.

    Example

    The landscape has changed much since the new industrial park was constructed on the outskirts of the city.

    Usage

    Often used with 'too', 'so', or 'very' to add emphasis.
  2. 2 a large part (pron.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a large amount or a big part of something.

    functions as a pronoun representing a large but indefinite quantity of an uncountable substance or abstract concept.

    Example

    Much of what he said was true, even if it was hard to hear.

    Example

    Much of the original architecture was destroyed during the fire, leaving only the stone foundations intact for the restorers.
    • a lot
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  1. 3 sarcastic question (adv.)
    C1 Advanced Slang Informal

    used in a short question to joke or be mean about someone's behavior.

    a post-posed adverbial used in rhetorical questions to mock or highlight a specific quality or behavior.

    Example

    Jealous much? You've been staring at my new phone all day.

    Example

    Bitter much? Just because you didn't get the promotion doesn't mean you have to be rude to everyone else.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a very informal way to tease someone. It is common in movies and TV shows but can sound rude if used with strangers.

Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *méǵh₂s Proto-Indo-European *-lósder. Proto-Germanic *-ilaz Proto-Germanic *mikilaz Proto-West Germanic *mikil Old English miċel Middle English muchel Middle English muche English much From Middle English muche (“much, great”), apocopated variant of muchel (“much, great”), from Old English myċel, miċel (“big, much”), from Proto-West Germanic mikil, from Proto-Germanic mikilaz (“great, many, much”), from Proto-Indo-European *meǵh₂- (“big, stour, great”). See also mickle, muckle. Cognates Cognate with Scots mickle, mukill, mekil, mikil (“big, large, great, much”), Middle Dutch mēkel (“great, many, much”), Middle High German michel ("great, many, much"; > German michel (“great, big, large”)), Norwegian Bokmål mye (“much”), Norwegian Nynorsk mykje (“much”), Swedish mycket (“much”), Danish meget (“much”), Gothic 𐌼𐌹𐌺𐌹𐌻𐍃 (mikils, “great, many”), Ancient Greek μέγας (mégas, “large, great”), Modern Greek μεγάλος (megálos, “large, great”). Note that English much is not related to Spanish mucho, and their resemblance in both form and meaning is purely coincidental, as mucho derives from Latin multus and is not related to the Germanic forms. Instead, related to Spanish maño.

Idioms5 entries

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