more
more — noun
1. an amount, number, or degree that is bigger than another amount or than what is
an amount, number, or degree that is bigger than another amount or than what is usual or necessary
Nikhil had saved fifty dollars, but he needed much more to buy the bicycle.
much more — noun phrase for greater quantity
The charity collected food for the village, yet more was needed each week.
more as noun subject with singular verb
Tariro looked at the portion on her plate and decided she did not want more.
The city spent four million on the park, but more went into the new library.
more as noun subject in comparative structure
Leo asked for no more, saying the soup had filled him up nicely.
no more — fixed expression for sufficient quantity
- much more
- far more
- no more
- a little more
- more and more
- less
the opposite smaller amount; used with uncountable nouns
Grammar Patterns
more + singular verb
much more
far more
no more
Usage Note
Subject of the sentence takes a singular verb when more refers to an uncountable amount: More is needed, not More are needed. For countable groups (more people), the determiner or pronoun uses a plural verb.
Common Mistakes
2. an additional amount beyond what is normally expected or needed, often used in c
an additional amount beyond what is normally expected or needed, often used in contexts where something extra is supplied, produced, or consumed on top of a regular portion or count
Élise finished her drink and asked the waiter for some more.
some more — requesting an additional amount
The manager promised that more would arrive before the weekend rush.
more as subject for an additional shipment
The baker baked a dozen cookies, then made a dozen more for the party guests.
[number] + more for additional items after a count
Christopher stayed at the office for two hours more after his team had left.
Adaeze read the first chapter once, then read it once more to memorise the details.
once more — fixed expression for repetition
- some more
- a little more
- once more
- any more
- extra
more direct adjective form; 'an extra amount'
- additional
more formal than more as a noun; 'something additional'
- less
a smaller additional amount
Grammar Patterns
some more
a little more
[number] + more
any more
Usage Note
Commonly follows numbers (two more, ten more) or the determiner some (some more). Once more and one more time are fixed expressions for repetition.
Common Mistakes
3. people who hold a superior social position or a higher status within a group or
people who hold a superior social position or a higher status within a group or society
In medieval castles the more ate at the high table while servants ate below.
the more as noun for higher-ranking people
The historian studied the daily lives of both the more and the less in Tudor England.
the more and the less — fixed formal pair
In old texts the more were described as those who governed and owned the land.
The palace servants bowed when the more entered the great hall during the ceremony.
the more as subject in historical context
- the more
- the more and the less
- upper class
more modern term for a high social group
- nobility
specifically the titled ruling class in historical contexts
- the less
the paired opposite: people of lower rank
Grammar Patterns
the more
the more and the less
Usage Note
Almost always used with the definite article (the more) and frequently paired with the less to contrast high and low rank. This sense is mostly found in historical writing or formal analysis of social structures; it is not used in everyday conversation.
more — adjective
1. A larger quantity, size, or degree of something when compared to something else
A larger quantity, size, or degree of something when compared to something else — for example, if you have more patience than your brother, you stay calm for longer than he can.
Bao needs more time to finish the exam than his classmates do.
more + uncountable noun + than
Kasia drank more coffee this morning than she usually drinks.
more + mass noun (coffee)
The new manager showed more patience with the team than the previous one did.
After the heavy rain, there was more water in the garden than the street.
Haruto has more homework this week than he had last week.
- more time
- more patience
- more money
- more water
- more work
- more effort
- more space
- more room
- less
the direct opposite when comparing amounts or degrees of uncountable things
Grammar Patterns
more + uncountable noun
more + uncountable noun + than
Usage Note
Frequently appears in than‑comparison structures to contrast two quantities or degrees. The noun that follows is always uncountable (time, patience, water, homework).
Common Mistakes
2. Extra in number; beyond what is already present, available, or expected — for ex
Extra in number; beyond what is already present, available, or expected — for example, buying more chairs means adding chairs to the ones you already have.
Vikram invited more people to the party after he found a bigger room.
more + plural countable noun (people)
The librarian ordered more books for the children's reading corner this month.
Dewi set out more chairs around the dinner table before the guests arrived.
Allison asked for more details about the flight before she booked a ticket.
Mira needs more volunteers to help run the school fair next Saturday.
more + plural noun (volunteers) in a need-context
- more people
- more books
- more chairs
- more details
- more volunteers
- more questions
- more rooms
- more students
- additional
slightly more formal; emphasises something added on top of what exists
- further
slightly more formal; implies continuation or extra steps
- extra
implies something beyond the usual or expected number
- fewer
the direct opposite for countable items — fewer chairs, fewer people
Grammar Patterns
more + plural noun
more + plural noun + than
Usage Note
Object of the sentence is always a plural countable noun. This sense does NOT take than‑comparison naturally — when 'more + plural noun' is followed by 'than', it shifts toward sense 1. Distinguish from sense 1: if the noun can take a number (three chairs, ten books), this sense applies.
Common Mistakes
more — idiom
more or less
idiomused to show that a statement is almost but not exactly true; approximately or mostly.
The repair cost more or less what Talia expected — around two thousand dollars.
Sayaka has more or less finished the report; she just needs to add a cover page.
The two plans are more or less the same, with only minor differences in cost.
what is more
idiomused to add a point that strengthens or supports what has just been said.
The apartment is close to the train station; what is more, the rent is very reasonable.
Hugo speaks excellent Mandarin, and what is more, he can read and write traditional characters.
The new policy reduced waste by half. What is more, it saved the company over a million dollars a year.
more and more
idiomincreasingly; happening or growing at a steady rate over time.
More and more families are choosing to grow their own vegetables at home.
As Élise practised, her playing became more and more confident.
The nights are getting darker more and more quickly as winter approaches.
the more the merrier
idiomsaid to welcome extra people, suggesting that a larger group makes an event more enjoyable.
When Hamza asked if he could bring a friend to the party, Gita smiled and said, "The more the merrier!"
The book club welcomes new members anytime — the more the merrier is their motto.
Hannah More
idioman English religious writer and philanthropist (1745–1833) known for her plays, poems, and moral tracts, as well as her work in education for the poor.
Hannah More wrote plays and poems before turning to religious writing later in life.
Along with her sister, Hannah More opened Sunday schools for children in rural Somerset.
Hannah More used her popular writings to argue for better education for poor families.
more — adverb
1. used to say that an extra amount of something exists, happens, or is wanted beyo
used to say that an extra amount of something exists, happens, or is wanted beyond what is already present or has already been mentioned.
We need to prepare more before the guests arrive tomorrow.
Bilal wanted to learn more about how car engines work.
verb + more + about-phrase for seeking additional information
The teacher asked the class to read more during the summer break.
Yumi decided to exercise more after her yearly health checkup.
verb + more to express doing an extra amount of an activity
Hugo ordered two more chairs for the meeting room.
number + more + noun for additional countable items
- a little more
- much more
- any more
- no more
- once more
- more to come
- further
more formal; often used in abstract or written contexts
- extra
used as an adjective before a noun rather than as an adverb
- additional
used as an adjective; more formal than 'more'
- less
opposite in terms of quantity or amount
Grammar Patterns
verb + more
more + noun phrase
want/need + more
Usage Note
Frequently appears after verbs such as 'need,' 'want,' 'have,' 'get,' or 'do' to indicate an additional amount. When followed by a noun, a reader may interpret it as a determiner — the boundary between adverb and determiner uses of 'more' is often unclear, but the core idea of 'in addition' remains the same.
Common Mistakes
2. used after a verb to show that an action or situation happens to a greater exten
used after a verb to show that an action or situation happens to a greater extent or degree than before, than something else, or than is usual.
Meera visits her parents more since they moved closer to the city centre.
verb + more to show greater frequency
The new bakery sells more because its bread costs less than the supermarket.
Eleni spoke more after the teacher asked about her trip to Japan.
verb + more expressing greater degree of an action
The Watanabe family travels more now that their children have grown up.
- much more
- a lot more
- more than ever
- more often
- to a greater extent
more formal, used in academic writing
- increasingly
specifically shows change over time rather than a one-time comparison
- less
the opposite degree — to a smaller extent
Grammar Patterns
verb + more
verb + more + than + noun phrase
verb + much/a lot + more
Usage Note
The action word (verb) that comes before more tells what is happening to a greater extent — visiting, selling, speaking, travelling. The comparison may be explicit (with than) or implied from context. Much more and a lot more add emphasis: She talks much more now.
Common Mistakes
3. used before an adjective or adverb to form the comparative, showing that someone
used before an adjective or adverb to form the comparative, showing that someone or something has a larger amount of a particular quality than another person or thing.
This coffee tastes more bitter than the one I had yesterday.
more + adjective + than for comparing two things
Yumi found the second test more difficult than the first one.
The new train runs more quietly than the old diesel model.
more + adverb for comparing how something is done
Can you speak more slowly so that I can follow you?
Erik chose a more comfortable chair for his home office.
more + adjective before a noun (no explicit than-clause)
- more than
- more or less
- more and more
- any more
- no more than
- -er form
the morphological comparative for short adjectives, e.g., 'smaller,' 'faster'
- less
used before adjectives and adverbs for a smaller degree, e.g., 'less expensive'
Grammar Patterns
more + adjective + than + noun
more + adverb + than + noun
Usage Note
Use 'more' for adjectives and adverbs with two or more syllables (e.g., 'more beautiful,' 'more carefully'). For short one-syllable adjectives, use '-er' instead ('taller,' not 'more tall'). Some two-syllable adjectives accept both forms ('more friendly' and 'friendlier').
Common Mistakes
more — biographical name
1. A 17th-century English thinker who was a leading member of the Cambridge Platoni
A 17th-century English thinker who was a leading member of the Cambridge Platonist group, writing about the nature of the soul, the existence of God, and the connection between reason and religious faith.
Henry More believed the soul continues to exist after the death of the body.
Teachers of philosophy sometimes discuss Henry More as a key figure among the Cambridge Platonists.
collocation: Cambridge Platonists
The writings of Henry More explore the link between spiritual experience and logical argument.
Many 17th-century scholars, including Henry More, tried to bring science and religion together.
historical context: 17th-century scholar
Usage Note
Typically referred to by full name 'Henry More' to distinguish him from other historical figures named More.
2. A 16th-century English politician and author who served as Lord Chancellor and w
A 16th-century English politician and author who served as Lord Chancellor and was executed after refusing to accept King Henry VIII as the supreme head of the Church of England.
Thomas More wrote "Utopia," a book that imagines a perfect society on an island.
notable work: Utopia
Sir Thomas More served as Lord Chancellor of England under King Henry VIII.
title: Lord Chancellor
The life of Thomas More was turned into a play and later into a film.
Historians admire Thomas More for staying true to his beliefs even when facing death.
reason for fame: integrity under pressure
Usage Note
Often referred to as 'Sir Thomas More' or 'Saint Thomas More' depending on context. Catholics honour him as a martyr saint.
Common Mistakes
more — determiner / pronoun
1. used when the number, amount, or degree of something is bigger than another thin
used when the number, amount, or degree of something is bigger than another thing or than what existed before
Gabriel spent more time on his art project than anyone else in class.
more + noun for comparative quantity
If you need more, just tell the librarian and she will order it for you.
pronoun: 'more' standing alone as object
The company hired more workers to meet the high demand this summer.
We have more food in the fridge than we can eat this week.
Hugo asked for more coffee after finishing his first cup.
- more than
- more of
- much more
- far more
- more time
- more money
- more people
- extra
focuses on something added beyond what is normal or expected, rather than a direct comparison
- additional
more formal; emphasises something extra on top of what already exists
- further
used especially for amounts, time, or distance beyond what is already present
Grammar Patterns
more + noun
more (as pronoun)
Common Mistakes
2. talking about a situation where the number or amount of something keeps growing
talking about a situation where the number or amount of something keeps growing over time
More and more families are choosing to grow their own vegetables at home.
'more and more' + noun for ongoing increase
As winter ended, more birds returned to the park each morning.
Abigail noticed more tourists arriving in the town every summer.
The school enrolled more students this year than ever before.
- more and more
- each year more
- every day more
- increasingly
adverb form; emphasises the gradual nature of the rise
- growing
adjective; focuses on the sense of expansion over time
- less and less
the opposite progressive pattern for decreasing amounts
Grammar Patterns
more and more + noun
more + noun (progressive increase)
Usage Note
Subject is usually an event or situation that changes over time. Frequently used with time expressions like 'each year', 'every month', or 'as time goes by'. The pattern 'more and more' strongly signals this sense.
Common Mistakes
more and more
idiomUsed to describe something that keeps increasing in number, amount, or degree over time.
More and more students are choosing to study abroad each year.
The noise from the construction site grew more and more annoying.
more — determiner
1. used before a noun to show that an amount or number of something is greater than
used before a noun to show that an amount or number of something is greater than before or greater than what is usual or needed.
The school needs more teachers for the new term starting in September.
more + noun (uncountable/countable)
Naoko asked for more time to finish her science project before the deadline.
more + uncountable noun
This recipe calls for more sugar than the one my grandmother used to make.
more + noun + than (comparison)
Asher earned more money this month because he worked extra shifts at the hospital.
We need more chairs — there are only eight and twenty people are coming.
more + countable noun (additional quantity)
- more time
- more money
- more people
- more information
- more details
- extra
suggests something added beyond what is usual or expected
- additional
more formal; often used in official or business contexts
- further
suggests continuation or extension of something already begun
Grammar Patterns
more + noun
more + noun + than + noun phrase
Usage Note
Unlike 'much' or 'many', 'more' works with both countable nouns (more chairs) and uncountable nouns (more time). No 'of' is needed before the noun unless the noun is already specified (more of the money).
Common Mistakes
2. used before an adjective or adverb with two or more syllables to compare two peo
used before an adjective or adverb with two or more syllables to compare two people, things, or situations, showing that one has a greater degree of a quality than the other.
Hugo is more confident now than he was at the start of the school year.
more + adjective + than
The train is a more comfortable way to travel than the bus on this route.
Tara found the second exam more difficult, but she still passed both papers.
more + adjective (no 'than' when implied)
Which city has a more interesting history — London or Tokyo?
Camila speaks French more fluently now after living in Paris for six months.
more + adverb (comparative of manner)
- more beautiful
- more difficult
- more interesting
- more comfortable
- more quickly
- -er (suffix)
used instead of 'more' for one-syllable adjectives
- to a greater degree
a longer, more formal way to express comparison
- less
a smaller degree of a quality; used with multi-syllable words (less expensive)
Grammar Patterns
more + adjective + than + noun phrase
more + adverb + than + noun phrase
[verb] + more + adverb + than + noun phrase
Usage Note
Only used with adjectives and adverbs of two or more syllables. For one-syllable words, add '-er' instead (smaller, faster, harder). Also avoid using 'more' with irregular comparatives such as 'better', 'worse', or 'farther'.
Common Mistakes
3. used before a number or quantity to emphasize that the actual figure is surprisi
used before a number or quantity to emphasize that the actual figure is surprisingly or noticeably large, often followed by 'than'.
More than two thousand people attended the music festival in the park.
more than + number (large quantity)
The new library cost more than five million dollars to build and furnish.
Min waited for more than an hour at the clinic before seeing the doctor.
It took more than three weeks for the package to arrive from Japan.
more than + duration
The blue whale can weigh more than a hundred and fifty tons as an adult.
- more than half
- more than enough
- more than a decade
- more than one
- fewer than
a smaller number (countable)
- less than
a smaller amount (uncountable or number-neutral)
Grammar Patterns
more than + number + noun
more than + quantity expression
Usage Note
The emphasis is on the speaker's surprise or the impressiveness of the number. For neutral reporting of numbers, 'over' or 'above' is a more neutral alternative. The phrase 'more than' can be shortened to 'over' in less emphatic contexts.
Common Mistakes
4. used in the repeated pattern 'more and more' before an adjective or noun to show
used in the repeated pattern 'more and more' before an adjective or noun to show that something is becoming greater in amount or degree steadily over time.
The river is getting more and more polluted as factories dump waste into it.
more and more + adjective (growing degree)
More and more families are choosing to ride bicycles instead of driving cars.
more and more + noun (growing number of)
Christopher found it more and more difficult to concentrate as the afternoon wore on.
Each year, more and more tourists visit the national park during the summer season.
Life in the city has grown more and more expensive for young people.
become + more and more + adjective (change over time)
- more and more difficult
- more and more popular
- more and more common
- more and more people
- more and more expensive
- increasingly
more formal; a single-word alternative to 'more and more'
- progressively
formal; suggests step-by-step change
- less and less
shows a steady decrease over time
Grammar Patterns
more and more + adjective
more and more + noun phrase
get/grow + more and more + adjective
Usage Note
This sense always uses the full repeated pattern 'more and more'. A single 'more' plus an adjective (e.g., 'more expensive') creates a simple comparative and does NOT carry the 'gradual increase' meaning. For a single-word equivalent, use 'increasingly' (more formal).
Common Mistakes
5. used at the start of two parallel clauses in the pattern 'the more...the more...
used at the start of two parallel clauses in the pattern 'the more...the more...' to show that as one thing increases or changes, another thing changes correspondingly in the same direction.
The more you practise the piano, the more your fingers will learn the notes.
the more [clause], the more [clause]
The more Hamza read about the history, the more he wanted to visit the country.
The more Megan explained the rules, the more confused her little brother became.
the more + verb, the more + adjective (result clause)
The more time Salma spent in the garden, the more flowers she decided to plant.
the more + noun + verb, the more + noun + verb
The more the children argued, the more tired their parents became of the noise.
- the more... the more
- the more... the better
- the more... the less
- the less... the less
shows that as one thing decreases, another also decreases
Grammar Patterns
the more + [clause], the more + [clause]
the more + noun + [verb], the more + noun + [verb]
Usage Note
Both clauses must begin with 'the more' (or 'the' + comparative). The first clause states the cause or condition, and the second clause states the result. The verb can be omitted in the second clause when it is the same as the first (e.g., 'The more you eat, the fatter you get').
Common Mistakes
more — pronoun
1. used on its own, without a following noun, to refer to people or items that come
used on its own, without a following noun, to refer to people or items that come on top of what is already present or has already been discussed.
Jessica had finished her homework, but more was still waiting for her brother.
more as subject referring to an uncountable noun
The kitchen had enough plates, but Hassan asked for more before the party.
more as object after a preposition
Esteban bought three mangoes, then decided to buy more at the next stall.
more as object of a verb (buy more)
Some tickets were already sold out, but more became available later that evening.
more as subject in a passive structure
Tanvi asked if there were more of the hand-painted bowls in the back room.
more of + determiner + noun phrase
- more of
- far more
- much more
- many more
- any more
- some more
- a little more
- a lot more
- extra
less formal, often used for physical items ('some extra are in the box')
- additional ones
more explicit, used when the referent is countable
- a greater amount
specifically for uncountable quantities
Grammar Patterns
more as subject (verb agrees with what more refers to)
more as object of a verb or preposition
more of + determiner + noun phrase
Usage Note
The verb after 'more' as subject is singular when 'more' refers to an uncountable amount (more is needed) and plural when it refers to countable items (more are coming). Use 'more of' only before a determiner — write 'more of the cake', not 'more of cake'.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/1
All five words can substitute for 'more' in certain contexts, but each has a distinct focus. 'Greater' implies degree, size, or importance — you would say 'greater patience' but not 'greater chairs'. 'Larger' is mostly used for physical size or numbers ('a larger room', 'a larger crowd'). 'Extra' emphasises something added beyond the usual or expected amount ('extra time', 'extra money'), without the comparative 'than' structure — 'more money' compares; 'extra money' just adds. 'Additional' is more formal than 'more' and commonly appears in official or business writing ('additional fees', 'additional information'). 'Further' suggests continuation or extension of something already begun ('further research', 'further instructions') and also works for physical distance ('further down the road'). For everyday comparisons, 'more' is the most natural choice; in formal writing, 'additional' and 'further' sound more appropriate; 'extra' is best when the emphasis is on something beyond the usual.
Common collocations
Nouns
- more time
- more money
- more people
- more information
Adverbs
- much more
- far more
- even more
- a lot more
- a little more
Phrases
- more or less
- more and more
- more and more + adjective
- the more... the more
Prepositions
- more than
- more of
Etymology
More comes from Old English 'māra', the comparative form of 'micel', the early word for 'great' or 'large'. By the Middle English period, 'māra' had shifted to 'more', and 'micel' was replaced by 'great' as the base adjective. The same Germanic root produced similar comparative forms in other languages: German 'mehr' and Dutch 'meer' also mean 'more'. The use of 'more' to form the comparative of adjectives (more beautiful, more quickly) developed in Middle English, alongside the older '-er' suffix pattern inherited from Old English.