more
More is often considered to be the comparative form of much and many.
1 det You use more to indicate that there is a greater amount of something than before or than average, or than something else. You can use `a little', `a lot', `a bit', `far', and `much' in front of more.
DET pl-n/n-uncount (Antonym: less)
More and more people are surviving heart attacks..., He spent more time perfecting his dance moves instead of gym work., ...teaching more children foreign languages other than English...
More is also a pronoun., pron
As the level of work increased from light to heavy, workers ate more..., He had four hundred dollars in his pocket. Billy had more.
More is also a quantifier., quant QUANT of def-n
Employees may face increasing pressure to take on more of their own medical costs in retirement...
2 prep-phrase You use more than before a number or amount to say that the actual number or amount is even greater.
PREP amount
(=over)
The Afghan authorities say the airport had been closed for more than a year., ...classy leather and silk jackets at more than £250.
3 adv You use more to indicate that something or someone has a greater amount of a quality than they used to or than is average or usual.
ADV adj/adv (Antonym: less)
Prison conditions have become more brutal..., We can satisfy our basic wants more easily than in the past.
4 adv If you say that something is more one thing than another, you mean that it is like the first thing rather than the second.
ADV group than group/cl, ADV of a n (Antonym: less)
The exhibition at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts is more a production than it is a museum display..., He's more like a film star than a life-guard, really..., She looked more sad than in pain..., Sue screamed, not loudly, more in surprise than terror..., She's more of a social animal than me.
5 adv If you do something more than before or more than someone else, you do it to a greater extent or more often.
ADV with v (Antonym: less)
When we are tired, tense, depressed or unwell, we feel pain much more..., What impressed me more was that she knew Tennessee Williams.
6 adv You can use more to indicate that something continues to happen for a further period of time.
ADV after v
Things might have been different if I'd talked a bit more. You can use some more to indicate that something continues to happen for a further period of time.
some more phrase PHR after v
We walked some more.
7 adv You use more to indicate that something is repeated. For example, if you do something `once more', you do it again once.
adv ADV, n ADV
This train would stop twice more in the suburbs before rolling southeast toward Munich..., The breathing exercises should be repeated several times more.
8 det You use more to refer to an additional thing or amount. You can use `a little', `a lot', `a bit', `far' and `much' in front of more.
DET pl-n/n-uncount
They needed more time to consider whether to hold an inquiry.
More is also an adjective., adj ADJ n
We stayed in Danville two more days..., Are you sure you wouldn't like some more wine?
More is also a pronoun., pron
Oxfam has appealed to western nations to do more to help the refugees..., `None of them are very nice folks.'—`Tell me more.'
9 adv You use more in conversations when you want to draw someone's attention to something interesting or important that you are about to say.
ADV adv/adj (Antonym: less)
Europe's economies have converged in several areas. More interestingly, there has been convergence in economic growth rates..., More seriously for him, there are members who say he is wrong on this issue.
10 You can use more and more to indicate that something is becoming greater in amount, extent, or degree all the time.
more and more phrase usu PHR with v, PHR group/cl
Her life was heading more and more where she wanted it to go...
11 If something is more or less true, it is true in a general way, but is not completely true.
more or less phrase PHR with group/cl, PHR before v (vagueness)
The Conference is more or less over..., He more or less started the firm...
12 If something is more than a particular thing, it has greater value or importance than this thing.
more than phrase v-link PHR n
He's more than a coach, he's a friend.
13 You use more than to say that something is true to a greater degree than is necessary or than average.
more than phrase PHR n, PHR adj
Lithuania produces more than enough food to feed itself.
14 You use no more than or not more than when you want to emphasize how small a number or amount is.
no more than/not more than phrase PHR amount (emphasis, Antonym: no less than)
He was a kid really, not more than eighteen or nineteen.
15 If you say that someone or something is nothing more than a particular thing, you are emphasizing that they are only that thing, and nothing more interesting or important.
nothing more than phrase v-link PHR n (emphasis)
The newly discovered notes are nothing more than Lang's personal journal.
16 You can use what is more or what's more to introduce an extra piece of information which supports or emphasizes the point you are making.
what is more phrase V inflects, PHR cl (emphasis)
(=moreover, furthermore)
You should remember it, and what's more, you should get it right.
17 →
all the more →
all →
any more →
any
ever more , evermore
Ever more means for all the time in the future. adv ADV with v, oft for ADV
They will bitterly regret what they have done for ever more..., The editor's decision is final and shall evermore remain so.
