at the (very) least
idiom
—used to indicate the least thing that is true, acceptable, desirable, or certain to happen
He wanted to win the race, or at the least, to finish second.
It will change your life or, at the very least, teach you something new.
At the very least, she deserves to be heard.
Examples of at the (very) least in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But at the very least there’s plenty to be charmed by and discuss.
—
Vogue, 29 July 2025
This stretch, at the very least, has allowed them the chance to find out.
—Sam Blum, New York Times, 29 July 2025
Grier found a solution - an adequate one at the very least, perhaps better than adequate - by flipping Ramsey and Smith for Minkah Fitzpatrick, a former Pro Bowl safety coming off something of a down year but still in his prime at 29.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 26 July 2025
Most of us have a lawn that is chopped up into areas—at the very least, a front yard, one or two side yards, and a back yard.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for at the (very) least
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Vogue, 29 July 2025
This stretch, at the very least, has allowed them the chance to find out.
—Sam Blum, New York Times, 29 July 2025
Grier found a solution - an adequate one at the very least, perhaps better than adequate - by flipping Ramsey and Smith for Minkah Fitzpatrick, a former Pro Bowl safety coming off something of a down year but still in his prime at 29.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 26 July 2025
Most of us have a lawn that is chopped up into areas—at the very least, a front yard, one or two side yards, and a back yard.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for at the (very) least
Cite this Entry
“At the (very) least.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20the%20%28very%29%20least. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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