much
muhch
Much (det) means a large amount of something, usually something uncountable. Example: “There isn't much time left before the deadline.”
det
1
A large amount of something, usually something uncountable.
"There isn't much time left before the deadline."
"How much sugar do you take in your coffee?"
"We don't have much milk left, so I'll pop to the shop."
adv
1
To a great degree; a lot.
"I don't much care for spicy food."
"She's much taller than her brother."
"Thank you very much for looking after the cat."
How to use much
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA word for "a lot" — used with uncountable nouns (much water) and to intensify comparisons (much better).
Common mistake
Use "much" with uncountable nouns (much money) and "many" with countable plural nouns (many coins). "Much" is not related to Spanish "mucho" despite looking similar.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
so much
too much
not much
much better
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like much.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- more
- Superlative
- most
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
There isn't _____ time left before the deadline.
Etymology
From Middle English muche/muchel, going back through Old English to a Proto-Germanic word meaning "great" or "many." Despite the resemblance, it is not related to the Spanish word mucho, which comes from Latin instead.
Synonyms
View more →
plenty of
lots of
loads of
ample
abundant
considerable
practically
often
a great deal of
a lot of
a great deal
a lot
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for much
See all rhymes for much →Frequently asked questions
What does “much” mean?
The word “much” means a large amount of something, usually something uncountable. In plain terms, a word for "a lot" — used with uncountable nouns (much water) and to intensify comparisons (much better).
How do you pronounce “much”?
“Much” is pronounced muhch (/mʌt͡ʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “much” in a sentence?
Here is “much” used in a sentence: “There isn't much time left before the deadline.”
What is another word for “much”?
Words with a similar meaning to “much” include a great deal of, a lot of, a great deal, a lot, greatly and highly.
What is the opposite of “much”?
The opposite of “much” — its antonyms — are little, less, few, almost and nearly.
What part of speech is “much”?
Depending on how it is used, “much” can be a det and an adverb.
Where does the word “much” come from?
The word “much” comes from Latin. From Middle English muche/muchel, going back through Old English to a Proto-Germanic word meaning "great" or "many." Despite the resemblance, it is not related to the Spanish word mucho, which comes from Latin instead.
Is “much” a common word?
“Much” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between much and many?
Use much with uncountable things you cannot easily split into units — much water, much time, much money. Use many with countable, plural nouns — many bottles, many hours, many coins. The quick test: if you can put a number in front of the noun, choose many; if you cannot, choose much.
Is 'much' used differently in positive and negative sentences?
Yes. In everyday positive statements much can sound stiff, so people prefer 'a lot of' — 'I have a lot of work' rather than 'I have much work.' Much fits far more naturally in questions and negatives — 'Is there much left?' or 'There isn't much time.' In formal writing, positive much is perfectly acceptable.
What is the opposite of much?
The opposite of much is little, which describes a small amount of something uncountable — 'little time,' 'little hope.' For countable things the parallel opposites are many and few. So much and little pair together for uncountable nouns, just as many and few pair together for countable ones.
What is an example of 'much' in a sentence?
Much typically sits before an uncountable noun or stands alone: 'There isn't much sugar left,' 'She didn't say much,' or 'How much does it cost?' It can also intensify comparisons — 'much better,' 'much too loud' — signalling a large degree rather than a large amount.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include much:
