much

much — noun

1. a large amount or part of something, typically used before 'of' to refer to a sp

1.nounB1
Definition

a large amount or part of something, typically used before 'of' to refer to a specific thing, group, or category

Example

Much of the budget was spent on new computers for the office.

collocation: much of + [noun phrase]

Aarav did not eat much at dinner because his stomach hurt.

Common collocations
  • much of
  • so much
  • too much
  • how much
  • as much as
Synonyms
  • a lot

    more common in everyday positive statements; less formal

  • plenty

    suggests more than enough; slightly more emphatic

  • a great deal

    more formal; used in written English

Antonyms
  • little

    small amount; opposite end of the scale

Grammar Patterns

much of + [noun phrase]

Usage Note

Used with uncountable nouns or uncountable concepts. Often appears in questions (how much), negative statements (not much), and with degree words (so much, too much).

Common Mistakes

Much students came to the class.
Many students came to the class.
'much' is for uncountable things; use 'many' with countable plural nouns.
I have much money.
I have a lot of money.
In positive statements without 'so/too/how', 'much' sounds old-fashioned; use 'a lot of' instead.

2. something that is important, valuable, or impressive — almost always used in neg

2.nounB2
Definition

something that is important, valuable, or impressive — almost always used in negative statements or questions to express a low opinion or lack of quality

Example

Defne did not think much of the film, so she left early.

negative pattern: not think much of [something]

The little café was not much to look at, but the cakes were delicious.

idiomatic: not much to look at

Common collocations
  • not much of a
  • not think much of
  • make much of
  • not up to much
  • not much to look at

Grammar Patterns

not think much of + [noun phrase]

not much of a + [noun]

make much of + [noun phrase]

not up to much

Usage Note

Almost never used in simple positive statements. Common fixed expressions include: 'not much of a [profession/role]', 'not up to much', 'not much to look at', and 'make much of [something]'.

Common Mistakes

I think much of this book.
I do not think much of this book.
'think much of' is almost always used in negative sentences.
He is much of a teacher.
He is not much of a teacher.
This pattern requires 'not' to express lack of skill or quality.

much — adjective

much — adverb

much — determiner / pronoun

much — determiner

much — pronoun

Word family

  • muchness
    nounC2
  • overmuch
    adverbC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: determiner, pronoun/1

「much」、「a lot of」、「plenty of」、「a great deal of」和「many」都表達大量，但用法有明顯差異。 • **much** 主要用在疑問句和否定句（How much time? / I don't have much money），較少用在肯定句。在肯定句中，應用「a lot of」取代（I have a lot of work，✗ I have much work）。搭配不可數名詞。 • **a lot of** 是最通用的選擇，可用於肯定、否定和疑問句，搭配不可數和可數名詞均可（a lot of people / a lot of water），口語和書面都自然。 • **plenty of** 強調足夠或多到有剩（Don't worry, there's plenty of food），帶有正面的語氣。 • **a great deal of** 是正式用語，只用於不可數名詞（a great deal of research），常見於學術或正式寫作。 • **many** 僅搭配可數名詞（many students），在肯定句中不如「a lot of」自然，但在否定和疑問句很常用（not many people / how many books?）。 舉例來說：『I don't have much patience for rude people.』（否定句搭配不可數名詞）和『She has a lot of friends.』（肯定句用 a lot of 更自然）就清楚展現了這些詞的典型使用場景。

a lot ofplenty ofa great deal ofmany ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • much time
  • much money
  • much effort
  • much work
  • much attention
  • much difference

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

  • much of
  • much to
  • much for
  • much about

Etymology

原始印歐語原始日耳曼語古英語中古英語現代英語

「much」來自中古英語 'muche'，源自古英語 'micel'（大的、多的），可追溯至原始日耳曼語 '*mikilaz' 以及原始印歐語 '*meǵh₂-'（巨大的）。同源詞包括拉丁語 'magnus'（偉大的）和希臘語 'μέγας'（大的）。