INDEX:
large amount or number
1. a large amount of something
2. a large number of things or people
3. a very large number of people or things
4. more than enough of something that people need or want
5. a lot of unpleasant events in a short period of time
6. a lot of people or things all arriving at the same time
7. when a lot of people or things do something at the same time
8. when there is a lot of something in many areas
9. done or believed by a lot of people
10. when someone does something a lot
11. containing a lot of something
12. producing a lot
13. when there is a lot of unpleasant activity
very much
14. very much
RELATED WORDS
opposite
↑ FEW/NOT MANY
↑ LITTLE
on many occasions : ↑ OFTEN
see also
↑ AMOUNT
↑ ENOUGH/NOT ENOUGH
↑ TOO/TOO MUCH
↑ SOME/SEVERAL
↑ BIG
◆◆◆
1. a large amount of something
▷ a lot /ə ˈlɒtǁ-ˈlɑːt/ [quantifier]
▪ If you plan carefully, a trip to Europe doesn’t have to cost a lot.
a lot of
▪ We spent a lot of time just lying on the beach.
▪ The book contains a lot of useful advice about setting up your own business.
a whole lot/an awful lot
a very large amount
▪ To most Americans, $150,000 sounds like a whole lot of money.
quite a lot
a fairly large amount of something
▪ Helen looks as if she’s lost quite a lot of weight recently - is she on a diet?
a lot more/less
▪ Ask Susan - she knows a lot more about computers than I do.
a lot to do/see/learn etc
▪ We’ve painted the kitchen and the living room, but there’s a lot to do in the other rooms.
▷ lots /lɒtsǁlɑːts/ [quantifier] informal
a large amount of something :
▪ ‘How much money did you bring with you?’ ‘Lots.’
lots of
▪ It’s a big house, so we’ve got lots of room for company.
▪ There was lots of blood, but I don’t think anyone got killed.
lots and lots
▪ You can’t afford to stay there unless you’ve got lots and lots of money.
lots to see/do/learn etc
▪ You won’t be bored - there’s lots to do here.
lots more/less
▪ There’s lots more beer in the cooler if you want some.
▷ much /mʌtʃ/ [quantifier]
use this especially in questions and negatives. Much is also used in positive sentences in written English and in formal spoken English :
▪ Do you know much about cars?
much pleasure/hope/sense etc
▪ It gives us much pleasure to announce the names of the winners.
▪ Her answer didn’t make much sense to me.
so much
▪ There was so much noise outside, I could hardly hear what she was saying.
too much
▪ I think Perry’s had a little too much wine.
much to do/see/learn etc
▪ She never seems to have much to say.
▪ He’s very young and still has much to learn about how to deal with employees.
much more/less
▪ We’ve had much less rain this year than last year.
much of
a large part of something
▪ Much of Bangladesh remains flooded after last week’s torrential rains.
▷ a great/a good deal /ə ˌgreɪt, ə ˌgʊd ˈdiːl/ [quantifier]
a large amount of something such as time, money, effort, or knowledge :
▪ We already know a great deal about the planet Jupiter.
a great/a good deal of
▪ The job requires a great deal of patience and skill.
▪ It sounds like a simple experiment, but it required a great deal of effort.
▪ There’s a good deal of evidence to show that eating red meat can cause heart disease.
a great/a good deal more/less
▪ Audiences have responded to his latest show with a great deal more enthusiasm.
▷ quite a bit/a fair amount also a fair bit British /ˌkwaɪt ə ˈbɪt, ə ˌfeər əˈmaʊnt, ə ˌfeəʳ ˈbɪt/ [quantifier]
a large amount of something compared with the total amount that you have :
▪ Don knows a fair bit about managing a company.
quite a bit/a fair amount of
▪ I wasted a fair amount of time before I figured out what was wrong with the car.
▪ There’s been quite a bit of conflict between the new director and his staff.
quite a bit/a fair amount more/less
▪ The tickets will cost quite a bit less money if you stay over the weekend.
▷ tons also loads especially British /masses British /tʌnz, ləʊdz, ˈmæsə̇z/ [quantifier] informal
a very large amount of something :
▪ ‘How much space is there in the back of your car?’ ‘Masses.’
▪ It was a fantastic meal - there was loads to eat.
tons of
▪ He made tons of money at some computer company.
▪ She’s a great athlete with loads of talent.
▪ I’ve got tons of homework to do this weekend.
tons and tons/loads and loads etc
▪ There’s tons and tons of information on the Internet if you’re willing to look for it.
▷ piles/heaps/stacks /paɪlz, hiːps, stæks/ [quantifier] British informal
a large amount of something, especially work or money :
▪ ‘How much money have you saved?’ ‘Oh, stacks!’
▪ I have piles to do when I get home tonight.
piles/heaps/stacks of
▪ Her family is very rich - they have heaps of money.
▷ a mountain of /ə ˈmaʊntə̇n ɒv/ [quantifier]
a large amount of something such as work, debt, or information :
▪ We had to complete a mountain of paperwork to get the loan.
▪ The economies of Third World countries are often crippled by huge mountains of debt which they will never be able to repay.
▷ heavy /ˈhevi/ [adjective]
a lot or in very large amounts, especially when this is worse than expected :
heavy rain/snow/traffic/fighting/losses/taxation
▪ The match went ahead despite the heavy rain.
▪ It was a fierce battle, and losses on both sides were heavy.
▪ Traffic was really heavy this morning - it took me over an hour to get here.
▷ a bundle /ə ˈbʌndl/ [quantifier] informal
a large amount of money :
▪ He lost a bundle in the stock market.
a bundle of
▪ If you end up hiring a lawyer, it could cost you a bundle of money.
2. a large number of things or people
▷ a lot /ə ˈlɒtǁ-ˈlɑːt/ [quantifier]
▪ I was surprised so few people were at the concert - I thought there’d be a lot there.
a lot of
▪ A lot of tourists visit Venice in the summer.
▪ John has lived in a lot of different places.
a lot more/fewer/less
▪ I’m sure she has a lot more problems than I have.
quite a lot
▪ There were quite a lot of words that I couldn’t understand.
a whole lot/an awful lot
▪ An awful lot of his customers are unhappy with his work.
▷ lots /lɒtsǁlɑːts/ [quantifier] informal
a lot of people or things :
▪ ‘Have you gotten any responses to your ad?’ ‘Yeah - lots.’
lots of
▪ I’ve invited lots of people.
▪ She asked lots of questions during the interview.
lots and lots of
▪ They’ve planted lots and lots of flowers in the back yard.
lots more/fewer/less
▪ We get lots more people in the bar on Fridays.
▷ many /ˈmeni/ [quantifier]
use this especially in questions and negative sentences. Many is also used in positive sentences in written English and in formal spoken English. :
many questions/people/cars/thoughts etc
▪ Did you get many Christmas cards this year?
▪ I don’t know many people here, do you?
not many
▪ Not many people survived the crash.
so many
▪ There were so many people at the party, I never even saw Will.
too many
▪ They’ve got too many rules for me to remember them all.
many of
many among a large number of people or things
▪ Many of the paintings burned, but the most valuable ones were saved.
for many years
▪ She worked as a reporter with CBS news for many years.
in many ways/places/cases etc
▪ There will be rain in many parts of the country tonight.
many more/fewer/less
▪ We’ve had many fewer complaints since Doug took over the department.
the many
▪ The report hardly mentions the many patients who have benefited from the treatment.
a good many
▪ A good many scientists were opposed to the use of the bomb.
many a person/place/thing
▪ I’ve spent many a happy morning fishing from this spot.
▷ a large number of/large numbers of /ə ˌlɑːʳdʒ ˈnʌmbər ɒv, ˌlɑːʳdʒ ˈnʌmbəʳz ɒv/ [quantifier]
a lot of a particular type of person or thing - used especially in newspapers and official reports :
▪ Police seized a large number of weapons.
▪ Large numbers of demonstrators were arrested during today’s protest march.
▷ tons also loads especially British /masses British /tʌnz, ləʊdz, ˈmæsə̇z/ [quantifier] informal
a lot of people or things :
▪ ‘How many strawberries did you pick?’ ‘Masses!’
tons of
▪ You can borrow one of my books if you want - I have tons of them.
▪ The beach was really crowded - there were loads of people from all over Europe.
loads and loads/tons and tons etc
▪ There were loads and loads of empty seats at the game - I was kind of surprised.
▷ a bunch /ə ˈbʌntʃ/ [quantifier] American informal
a lot of people or things :
▪ ‘Do you have any markers I could borrow?’ ‘I’ve got a bunch - what colors do you need?’
a bunch of
▪ Rita finally showed up with a bunch of her friends.
▪ I went to a bunch of different stores but I couldn’t find a coat I liked.
a whole bunch
▪ A whole bunch of us are going to the beach - you want to come along?
▷ dozens /ˈdʌz ə nz/ [quantifier]
a large number of people, things etc but not usually more than a hundred :
▪ At least five people died and dozens more were injured in a gas explosion just outside Paris.
dozens of
▪ Since we put the advertisement in the paper we’ve had dozens of phone calls.
▪ Baldwin was the author of six novels, four plays and dozens of essays and poems.
dozens and dozens
▪ The women see dozens and dozens of movies a year.
▷ numerous /ˈnjuːm ə rəsǁˈnuː-/ [adjective] formal
many :
▪ The same problem has occurred before on numerous occasions.
▪ Numerous books and movies have dealt with the issue of wife abuse.
too numerous to list/mention/name etc
so many that you cannot say all of them
▪ I want to thank all the people, too numerous to mention, who’ve helped me win this election.
▷ a host of /ə ˈhəʊst ɒv/ [quantifier]
a large number of things or people, especially when this is impressive or surprising :
▪ AIDS can indirectly result in a host of other illnesses.
▪ Since he was elected, the president has been faced with a host of difficult problems.
a whole host of
▪ Their newest compact model has a whole host of exciting new features.
▷ quite a few /ˌkwaɪt ə ˈfjuː/ [quantifier]
a fairly large number of people, things etc :
▪ He’s been working at the company for quite a few years.
▪ There have been quite a few accidents on this stretch of road.
▪ ‘How many people are coming to the party?’ ‘Oh, quite a few.’
quite a few of
▪ She knows quite a few of the people who work at the hospital.
▷ a raft of /ə ˈrɑːft ɒvǁ-ˈræft-/ [quantifier] especially American
a large number of ideas, opinions, suggestions etc :
▪ The President has a raft of new proposals for dealing with inner city decay.
a whole raft of
▪ By the end of the meeting we had a whole raft of new ideas for expansion.
▷ multi /ˈmʌlti/ [prefix]
multi-coloured/multi-national/multi-storey/multi-racial/multi-purpose/multi-million dollar etc
having or involving many colours, countries etc :
▪ My new office is in a multi-storey building.
▪ The company is a multi-national corporation, which has branches all over the world.
▪ Russia has moved from a one-party dictatorship to a multi-party system of government.
▷ multiple /ˈmʌltɪp ə l, ˈmʌltəp ə l/ [adjective only before noun]
multiple injuries/wounds/burns/fractures
in many parts of the body :
▪ She suffered multiple injuries after jumping out of a fifth floor window.
▪ Lauda was pulled from his blazing car with multiple burns.
3. a very large number of people or things
▷ hundreds/thousands /ˈhʌndrɪdz, ˈhʌndrədz, ˈθaʊz ə ndz/ [quantifier]
a lot of things or people - use this when you want to emphasize that you are talking about a very large number. You can use this informally when the number is actually less than a hundred :
▪ Hundreds were left homeless by the flood.
hundreds/thousands of
▪ I’ve seen that movie hundreds of times.
▪ It will cost thousands of dollars to repair the house.
▪ From the 1880s to the early 1900s thousands of workers came to Hawaii from Japan.
hundreds and hundreds/thousands and thousands also hundreds upon hundreds/thousands upon thousands
▪ The temple was filled with hundreds and hundreds of lanterns.
by the hundreds/thousands
▪ Starving animals in the region are dying by the thousands.
▷ a great many /ə ˌgreɪt ˈmeni/ [quantifier]
use this when you want to emphasize that you are talking about something important :
▪ We have seen a great many changes in the last twenty years.
▪ There are still a great many questions that remain unanswered.
a great many of
▪ The fire had destroyed a great many of the family’s possessions.
▷ countless/innumerable /ˈkaʊntləs, ɪˈnjuːm ə rəb ə lǁɪˈnjuː-, ɪˈnuː-/ [adjective only before noun]
an extremely large number of things or people, that cannot be counted or imagined :
▪ The mountains around the lake are filled with countless hiking trails.
▪ There are innumerable variations on the folktale, but the basic story is the same throughout Europe.
countless millions
an extremely large group of people
▪ His music has brought joy to countless millions.
▷ everything but the kitchen sink /ˌevriθɪŋ bət ðə ˌkɪtʃə̇n sɪŋk/ [noun phrase] informal
an extremely large number of things of different types - use this especially when you think there are too many things :
▪ When my parents come to stay with us, they bring everything but the kitchen sink!
▪ Chatham refused to participate in what he called ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ art shows.
4. more than enough of something that people need or want
▷ plenty /ˈplenti/ [quantifier]
a lot of something or a lot of things or people, especially more than enough :
▪ No thanks, I couldn’t eat any more. I’ve had plenty.
plenty of
▪ There’s plenty of room in the hall closet.
▪ We have plenty of glasses, but not enough plates.
plenty to do/eat/talk about etc
▪ The two men had plenty to talk about.
plenty of something to do something
▪ There’s still plenty of time to take a walk or a bike ride before dinner.
▷ more than enough /ˈmɔːʳ ð ə n ɪˌnʌf/ [quantifier]
more than you need - sometimes used to mean there is too much :
▪ Here’s some money for the ticket - $25 should be more than enough.
more than enough something for somebody
▪ There’s more than enough food for everyone.
more than enough to do/think about etc
▪ I can’t help with the planning. I’ve more than enough to do already.
more than enough to do something
▪ He makes more than enough to live comfortably on.
more than enough something to do something
▪ Supporters have gathered more than enough signatures to put Fordham on the ballot.
▷ bags of /ˈbægz ɒv/ [quantifier] British informal
a lot or more than enough of something that you need or want :
▪ Don’t rush; we’ve got bags of time.
▪ The new manager is tremendously enthusiastic, and he’s got bags of new ideas.
▷ ample /ˈæmp ə l/ [adjective usually before noun]
more than enough :
▪ These documents provide ample evidence of their guilt.
▪ The program would ensure that Arizona has an ample supply of water for the next 20 years.
ample time/opportunity etc to do something
▪ You will have ample opportunity to express your opinions during the debate.
amply [adverb]
▪ The men have been amply rewarded for their services.
▷ plentiful /ˈplentɪf ə l/ [adjective]
if something such as food or water is plentiful, there is more than enough of it available :
▪ During the summer tomatoes are plentiful and cheap.
▪ The river provides a plentiful supply of clean water to nearby villages.
▷ an abundance of /ən əˈbʌndəns ɒv/ [quantifier] formal
a large quantity of something, usually more than is needed :
▪ This book contains an abundance of valuable information.
▪ An abundance of fruits and vegetables grow in Kenya’s temperate climate.
▷ abundant /əˈbʌndənt/ [adjective] formal
existing in large quantities so that there is more than enough :
▪ Latin America has an abundant labor force and natural resources.
▪ During the 18th century land was cheap, grain was plentiful, and meat was abundant.
abundant in
▪ Plant fossils are abundant in some types of rock.
▷ galore /gəˈlɔːʳ/ [adjective only after noun]
available in large quantities - used especially in advertisements about something that people may want :
▪ There are bargains galore in our summer sale.
▪ Lots of fun for the kids! Rides and games galore!
5. a lot of unpleasant events in a short period of time
▷ spate of something /ˈspeɪt əv something/ [singular noun]
▪ An alarming spate of bombings has caused widespread panic.
▪ The company has yet to respond to the recent spate of lawsuits filed against it.
▪ The party lost power three years ago after a spate of political scandals.
▷ epidemic /ˌepɪˈdemɪk◂, ˌepəˈdemɪk◂/ [countable noun]
a lot of unpleasant activity of one particular kind which spreads quickly during a short period of time and which seems to be difficult to stop or control :
epidemic of
▪ The recent epidemic of car thefts has been blamed on bored teenagers.
reach epidemic proportions
become like an epidemic
▪ Alcohol abuse has reached epidemic proportions in this country.
▷ rash of something /ˈræʃ əv something/ [singular noun]
a large number of unpleasant events or a particular kind that happen in a short period of time in many different places :
▪ Emergency officials worry that the region may again be hit by a rash of wildfires this fall.
▪ Experts are not sure what is causing the recent rash of mountain lion sightings.
▷ wave /weɪv/ [countable noun]
a lot of unpleasant activity or actions suddenly becoming worse and increasing in a short period of time :
wave of
▪ Security chiefs fear a new wave of terrorist bombings.
▪ The country has been brought to a standstill by the latest wave of strikes.
crime wave
▪ The mayor has promised tough action in response to the city’s rising crime wave.
6. a lot of people or things all arriving at the same time
▷ flood of /ˈflʌd ɒv/ [countable noun]
a very large amount of something or a very large number of things or people arriving in a short period of time :
▪ Many fear that the flood of imports could weaken Britain’s economy.
▪ The town has been hit by a flood of visitors since it was featured in the movie.
▪ The company was launched amid a flood of publicity a year ago.
▷ wave of /ˈweɪv ɒv/ [countable noun]
a sudden increase in the number of people or things all arriving at the same time :
▪ There was a great wave of immigrants to the U.S. at the beginning of the 20th century.
▪ Students are responsible for sparking the latest wave of demonstrations.
▷ deluge/avalanche of /ˈdeljuːdʒ, ˈævəlɑːnʃ ɒvǁ-læntʃ-/ [singular noun]
a very large number of messages, letters etc all arriving suddenly at the same time, especially when there are too many :
▪ He received a deluge of telegrams and messages of support from around the world.
▪ Insurance companies are bracing themselves for an avalanche of claims following the hurricane.
7. when a lot of people or things do something at the same time
▷ in large numbers /ɪn ˌlɑːʳdʒ ˈnʌmbəʳz/ [adverb]
use this to say that a lot of people or things do something, or go or appear somewhere all at the same time :
▪ During the dry season animals gather in large numbers around the water holes.
▪ Young people are leaving the countryside and moving to the city in large numbers.
▷ in droves /ɪn ˈdrəʊvz/ [adverb]
if people go somewhere in droves, they go in large numbers especially when this surprises you :
▪ Nurses are leaving the profession in droves.
▪ People came in droves to watch the fireworks display.
▷ in force/strength /ɪn ˈfɔːʳs, ˈstreŋθ/ [adverb]
if people go somewhere in force or in strength a lot of them go together so that there is a large number of them in a particular place :
▪ The police arrived in force to break up the crowd of demonstrators.
▪ If Latino voters turn out in strength for the next election, results could be very different.
▷ by the hundreds/thousands /baɪ ðə ˈhʌndrə̇dz, ˈθaʊz ə ndz/ [adverb]
if people do something by the hundreds or by the thousands very large groups of them are doing it at the same time :
▪ People in the drought-stricken region are dying by the hundreds.
▪ From all over the country, people came by the thousands to pay respect to their dead leader.
▷ thick and fast /ˌðɪk ən ˈfɑːstǁ-ˈfæst/ [adverb]
if messages, events etc come thick and fast, a lot of them suddenly come or happen in a short time :
▪ At first no one was interested in the job but now applications are coming in thick and fast.
▪ Rumours flew thick and fast that the company was going to be sold.
▷ be dying/dropping like flies /biː ˌdaɪ-ɪŋ, ˌdrɒpɪŋ laɪk ˈflaɪzǁ-ˌdrɑːp-/ [verb phrase]
to be dying or suddenly becoming ill in large numbers :
▪ In the middle of the cholera epidemic, people were dropping like flies.
▪ When Sam reached 70, it seemed his friends started dying like flies.
8. when there is a lot of something in many areas
▷ common /ˈkɒmənǁˈkɑː-/ [adjective]
if an object, animal, disease etc is common, there is a very large number or amount of objects, animals etc of this type in many different places :
▪ Jones is a very common name in Britain.
▪ Flatheads are a common type of fish and good to eat.
▪ Malaria is particularly common near swamps where mosquitoes can breed.
commonly [adverb]
▪ The pregnancy test is commonly available in supermarkets and drugstores.
▷ widespread /ˈwaɪdspred/ [adjective]
having an effect on a lot of people over a wide area :
▪ Poverty in the region is widespread.
widespread damage/flooding/poverty etc
▪ Heavy rains have led to the most widespread flooding in a decade.
▪ Ethiopia was suffering widespread famine and disease.
▷ extensive /ɪkˈstensɪv/ [adjective]
covering a large area or a large range of information, ideas etc :
▪ Damage to the forests from the wildfires was extensive.
▪ The ancient Greeks had an extensive knowledge of the stars.
▪ Abortion has been the subject of extensive debate in the US.
extensively [adverb]
▪ The band has toured extensively in the U.S. and Europe.
9. done or believed by a lot of people
▷ common /ˈkɒmənǁˈkɑː-/ [adjective]
▪ Using ‘lay’ instead of ‘lie’ is a very common mistake.
▪ It’s becoming more and more common for women to keep their family name when they marry.
▪ My daughter says politics is boring, which is a common attitude among teenagers.
commonly [adverb]
▪ Aspirin is commonly used to relieve pain.
commonly known/understood/referred to as something
known by a lot of people or most people in a particular way
▪ He leads the Student Environmental Action Coalition, more commonly known as SEAC.
▷ popular /ˈpɒpjɑləʳǁˈpɑːp-/ [adjective only before noun]
done, believed, or felt by a lot of ordinary people have :
▪ There is still a lot of popular support for the ex-president.
▪ I don’t accept the popular view that all criminals should be put in prison.
contrary to popular belief
the opposite of what most ordinary people believe
▪ Contrary to popular belief, the Australian desert is often full of wildlife.
popularly [adverb]
known, understood etc by a lot of ordinary people in a particular way: :
popularly known/understood/referred to etc as something
▪ The law seeks to regulate smokeless tobacco, popularly known as ‘snuff.’
▷ widespread /ˈwaɪdspred/ [adjective usually before noun]
done, believed or felt by a lot of people in many different places :
▪ There was now widespread public support for healthcare reform.
▪ The airlines’ failures were in part caused by widespread concern about air safety.
▪ The practice of adding preservatives to basic foods is widespread.
▷ widely /ˈwaɪdli/ [adverb]
widely accepted/believed/known/practised/used etc
done, believed or felt by a lot of people in many different places :
▪ Silicon Valley is widely known as California’s high-tech center.
▪ A hundred years ago it was widely believed that there was life on Mars.
▪ Asbestos was once widely used in the building industry.
10. when someone does something a lot
▷ a lot /ə ˈlɒtǁ-ˈlɑːt/ []
▪ I’m really glad to meet you. Betty’s talked a lot about you.
▪ He really sweats a lot in hot weather like this.
a whole lot/an awful lot
▪ We didn’t do an awful lot while Geraldine was here.
quite a lot
▪ He laughed quite a lot as he spoke.
▷ much /mʌtʃ/ [adverb]
use this in questions and negatives :
▪ I haven’t thought much about it.
▪ Do you talk to Leslie much anymore?
▷ a good/great deal /ə ˌgʊd, ˌgreɪt ˈdiːl/ [] formal
a lot :
▪ I’ve thought a good deal about what you said.
▪ Her knee makes it impossible to run, but she still walks a great deal.
▷ quite a bit/a fair amount also a fair bit British /ˌkwaɪt ə ˈbɪt, ə ˌfeər əˈmaʊnt, ə ˌfeəʳ ˈbɪt/ [adverb]
fairly often or in fairly large amounts :
▪ You’ve been travelling quite a bit lately, haven’t you?
▪ I exercise a fair amount - especially on weekends.
▪ You have to stand around a fair bit in this job.
▷ heavy /ˈhevi/ [adjective only before noun]
heavy smoking/drinking
smoking or drinking a lot, especially when this is bad for your health :
▪ She has a bad cough, caused by heavy smoking.
▪ The three soldiers are accused of killing the woman after a night of heavy drinking.
be a heavy smoker/drinker
smoke or drink a lot
▪ His first wife Joy was a heavy smoker who died of lung cancer.
11. containing a lot of something
▷ be full of /biː ˈfʊl ɒv/ [verb phrase]
if something is full of people or things, there are a lot of them in it :
▪ In summer the town is full of tourists.
▪ Her essay was full of mistakes.
be chock full of something
be completely full of something
▪ The pamphlet is chock full of advice for people travelling abroad.
▷ high /haɪ/ [adjective]
something that is high in fat, sugar, salt etc contains a lot of fat, sugar etc :
high in
▪ The cereal is high in fiber and contains plenty of vitamin B.
high-fat/-sugar/-cholesterol etc
▪ I try to eat a low-fat, high-protein diet.
high metal/calcium/oxygen etc content
▪ The high oxygen content of Earth’s atmosphere makes life here possible.
▷ rich /rɪtʃ/ [adjective]
something that is rich in a useful or valuable substance such as oil or iron, contains a lot of oil, iron etc :
rich in
▪ Spinach is rich in iron and very good for you.
▪ The land in this area is rich in minerals and ideal for growing crops.
oil-rich/copper-rich/diamond-rich etc
▪ Numerous companies sprang up employing thousands to work the oil-rich fields of Texas.
12. producing a lot
▷ productive /prəˈdʌktɪv/ [adjective]
doing a job efficiently with good results, especially by producing a large quantity of something :
▪ We should do something to reward our most productive employees.
▪ The local paper factory has been forced to become more productive or face closure.
▷ prolific /prəˈlɪfɪk/ [adjective]
a writer or artist who is prolific produces a large number of works :
▪ Ansle is a prolific writer of more than 200 romances.
▪ As an artist, Benton was prolific - more than 1,900 drawings were found in his studio after his death.
13. when there is a lot of unpleasant activity
▷ be rife /biː ˈraɪf/ [verb phrase]
if something bad or unpleasant is rife, it is very common. If a place, situation, or activity is rife with something bad or unpleasant, the bad or unpleasant thing is very common there :
▪ Foreigners doing business in the city say that corruption is rife there.
be rife with
▪ The neighborhood is rife with illegal drug activity and violence.
▷ be a hotbed of /biː ə ˈhɒtbed ɒvǁ-ˈhɑːt-/ [verb phrase]
use this about a place where there is a lot of an activity, especially a bad or violent one :
▪ The political party has become a hotbed of nationalism and racial bigotry.
▪ The exhibition’s use of religious symbols has made it a hotbed of controversy.
14. very much
▷ a lot /ə ˈlɒtǁ-ˈlɑːt/ []
very much :
▪ She’s changed a lot since she’s been here.
▪ ‘How does your arm feel?’ ‘It still hurts a lot.’
▪ I like her a lot, but I don’t think I’m in love with her.
a lot better/worse/bigger/more etc
▪ Their new house is a lot bigger than their old one.
▪ The tickets were a lot more expensive than we expected.
a whole lot/an awful lot
▪ I like the people a whole lot, but the pay isn’t very good.
▷ very much /ˌveri ˈmʌtʃ/ [adverb]
use this especially to talk about people’s feelings :
▪ ‘Do you like living in Rome?’ ‘Yes, very much.’
like/admire/miss etc somebody very much
▪ Lara liked being at college, but she missed her family very much.
like/enjoy something very much
▪ We enjoyed the play very much - it was really well done.
very much wish/hope/doubt etc
formal
▪ I doubt very much that he’ll still be here in November.
▷ a good/great deal /ə ˌgʊd, ˌgreɪt ˈdiːl/ [] formal
very much - use this especially to talk about changes, improvements, or differences :
▪ Her work has improved a good deal over the past year.
▪ By the next morning the swelling had already gone down a great deal.
a good/great deal better/worse/bigger/more etc
▪ The situation was a good deal worse than we had first thought.
▷ quite a bit /a fair bit British /ˌkwaɪt ə ˈbɪt, ə ˌfeəʳ ˈbɪt/ [adverb]
by a fairly large degree :
▪ She’s quite a bit shorter than I remembered.
▪ Jim has improved quite a bit since he came home from the hospital.
▪ The estimates were a fair bit higher than what the final figure was.
▷ really /ˈrɪəli/ [] especially spoken
a lot - use this especially to talk about your feelings :
▪ I really like your new haircut.
▪ We really enjoy having a few friends over for dinner every once in a while.
▪ What really annoys me is the way he never apologizes when he’s late.
▷ greatly /ˈgreɪtli/ [] formal
a lot :
▪ We greatly regret having caused you so much trouble and inconvenience.
▪ The recent talks have greatly improved relations between North and South Korea.
▪ I think we have all benefited greatly from Helen’s knowledge and experience.
be greatly affected/amused/influenced etc
▪ The students were greatly amused by Professor Unwin’s remark.
▪ Critics say that the report’s figures are greatly exaggerated.
▷ so much /səʊ ˈmʌtʃ/ []
use this especially when you are saying how much you love, want, or admire something or someone :
▪ It’s two years since Tony died. I miss him so much.
▪ I wanted so much to go with him, but he wouldn’t let me come.
▪ Wordsworth returned to the lakes and hills that he loved so much.
so much better/worse/more etc
▪ I really like the living room arranged this way so much better than the way we used to have it.
▷ much /mʌtʃ/ [adverb]
use this in questions and negatives and in comparisons and before phrases with ‘too’ :
▪ Has he changed much?
▪ ‘Did you enjoy the show?’ ‘Not much.’
much better/worse/bigger/more etc
▪ You get a much better view if you stand on a chair.
▪ His family is much more important to him than his career.
much too big/old/tall etc
▪ The test was much too difficult for most of the students.
▪ You’re working much too hard, and you’re letting the boss take advantage of you.
▷ enormously/tremendously /ɪˈnɔːʳməsli, trɪˈmendəsli/ [adverb]
use this to emphasize that you mean ‘very much’ :
▪ His English has improved tremendously.
▪ I admire your mother enormously.
▪ Prices can vary enormously from state to state.
▪ Since the law was changed, the number of credit unions has grown tremendously.
▷ significantly /sɪgˈnɪfɪkəntli/ [adverb]
use this when you are talking about a change or difference that is big enough to be important :
▪ In New York and Los Angeles violent crime decreased significantly.
▪ All ovens are different, and cooking times can vary significantly.
significantly higher/lower/more etc
▪ Students who had completed the program scored significantly higher on standardized tests.