a great quantity, measure, or degree:not much to do; He owed much of his success to his family.
a great, important, or notable thing or matter:He isn't much to look at.
an amount or degree of something:How much does it cost?
adv.
to a great extent or degree:to talk too much.
nearly, approximately, or about:That book is much like the others.
Idiomsmuch as:
almost to the same degree as:Babies need love, much as they need food.
(used to express a contrast between one clause and another) even though; although:Much as he wants to go to Iceland, he won't.
Idioms
I thought as much, (used to express the speaker's belief that what precedes was expected):"The police haven't found your stolen car yet.'' --"I thought as much; it will probably never turn up.''
make much of, [+ object] to treat or consider (something) as being important:Her opponent tried to make much of the fact that she had tried marijuana as a college student.
not much of a, not a very good example of (something):We didn't have much of a holiday: rain, cold weather, and flu.
so much for, (used to express the speaker's belief that the next thing mentioned is finished, or has no chance of being successful):Look at this traffic jam; so much for arriving on time!
great in quantity, measure, or degree:too much cake.
n.
a great quantity, measure, or degree:Much of his research was unreliable.
a great, important, or notable thing or matter:The house is not much to look at.
Idiomsmake much of:
to treat, represent, or consider as of great importance:to make much of trivial matters.
to treat with great consideration; show fondness for; flatter.
adv.
to a great extent or degree; greatly; far:to talk too much; much heavier.
nearly, approximately, or about:This is much like the others.
much as:
Idiomsalmost the same as:We need exercise, much as we need nourishment.
Idiomshowever much:Much as she wanted to stay at the party, she had to leave.
1150–1200; Middle English muche, moche, apocopated variant of muchel, mochel, Old English mycel; replacing Middle English miche(l), Old English micel great, much (compare mickle), cognate with Old Norse mikill, Gothic mikils, Greek mégal-, suppletive stem of mégas great
(usually used with a negative)a great quantity or degree of: there isn't much honey left
(as pronoun): much has been learned from this
a bit much ⇒ rather excessive
make much of ⇒ Seemake of4
not up to much ⇒ of a low standard: this beer is not up to much
considerably: they're much better now
practically; nearly (esp in the phrase much the same)
(usually used with a negative)often; a great deal: it doesn't happen much in this country
much as, as much as ⇒ even though; although: much as I'd like to, I can't come
See alsomore, mostEtymology: Old English mycel; related to Old English micel great, Old Saxon mikil, Gothic mikils; compare also Latin magnus, Greek megas
'not much' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):