Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
You can use ~ to emphasize a statement. (SPOKEN)
I’m very sorry. I ~ am...
It ~ is best to manage without any medication if you possibly can...
ADV: usu ADV with v emphasis
2.
You can use ~ to emphasize an adjective or adverb.
It was ~ good...
They were ~ nice people...
= very
ADV: ADV adj/adv emphasis
3.
You use ~ when you are discussing the real facts about something, in contrast to the ones someone wants you to believe.
My father didn’t ~ love her...
ADV: usu ADV with v, also ADV adj
4.
People use ~ in questions and negative statements when they want you to answer ‘no’.
Do you ~ think he would be that stupid?...
= honestly
ADV: ADV before v emphasis
5.
If you refer to a time when something ~ begins to happen, you are emphasizing that it starts to happen at that time to a much greater extent and much more seriously than before.
That’s when the pressure ~ started...
ADV: ADV before v emphasis
6.
People sometimes use ~ to slightly reduce the force of a negative statement. (SPOKEN)
I’m not ~ surprised...
‘Did they hurt you?’—‘Not ~’...
ADV: ADV after neg, usu ADV with v, also ADV with cl vagueness
7.
You can say ~ to express surprise or disbelief at what someone has said. (SPOKEN)
‘We discovered it was totally the wrong decision.’—‘Really?’...
CONVENTION feelings