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 even without a solid gold tomb, its dating and proximity at the very least strongly suggests a direct link to his dynasty.
—
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 12 June 2025
During this period of reckoning over race, Confederate monuments stood out for their apparent role in celebrating, or at the very least commemorating, figures who had defended the institution of slavery or who had taken up arms against the United States.
—Jeffery Vacante, Hartford Courant, 10 June 2025
Chad Gable Chad Gable/El Grande Americano—at the very least—deserves a championship soon.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
But most likely, an overnight stopover will be necessary, or at the very least, an overnight flight.
—Will McGough, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for at the (very) least
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 12 June 2025
During this period of reckoning over race, Confederate monuments stood out for their apparent role in celebrating, or at the very least commemorating, figures who had defended the institution of slavery or who had taken up arms against the United States.
—Jeffery Vacante, Hartford Courant, 10 June 2025
Chad Gable Chad Gable/El Grande Americano—at the very least—deserves a championship soon.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
But most likely, an overnight stopover will be necessary, or at the very least, an overnight flight.
—Will McGough, Forbes.com, 29 May 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 17 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share