Dictionary

at the very least en · ADV

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (idiomatic, not-comparable) At least; as an absolute minimum; emphatic form of at the least.
   • Palace made it 3-1 on 81 minutes, Nketiah nipping in to finish nicely, then doing a no-celebration pose in front of the away fans. Nketiah grew up a couple of miles from the Den. It felt, at the very least, like a neighbourly overture, and in violent contrast to the opening act at the other end. 2025 January 3, Barney Ronay, “Crystal Palace through after Millwall keeper’s red for head-high tackle on Mateta”, in The Guardian:
   • After all, if we think of the Vatican as a vast and hugely successful multinational corporation, then this interview would appear to be the equivalent of a profits warning. At the very least, it would seem to be tinkering with the formula of the biggest spiritual brand in the world, analogous to Coca-Cola changing its famous recipe in 1985. 2013 September 20, Martina Hyde, The Guardian:

Forms

Antonyms

at the very most

Translations (8)

fr tout au moins (as an absolute minimum) · fr au moins (as an absolute minimum) · fr au bas mot (as an absolute minimum) · pl w najgorszym przypadku (as an absolute minimum) · pl przynajmniej (as an absolute minimum) · ga ar a laghad ar bith (as an absolute minimum) · de allerwenigstens (as an absolute minimum) · fr au minimum (as an absolute minimum)