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

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Or at the very least, take some cues from Kwanzaa, invented in 1966, which established a tradition of giving modest, meaningful gifts to children, separate from (i.e. after) Christmas, with no Santa myth, and with some cultural or spiritual significance. Gord Magill, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024 This includes knowing your specific triggers and doing your best to avoid them or, at the very least, work through them. Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 20 Dec. 2024 Be sure to watch the tuna episode at the least—the beautifully loud and chaotic tuna auction in Tokyo’s Toyosu Market is one of the best scenes in the series, tying all these themes together. Karen Yuan, Bon Appétit, 18 Dec. 2024 Grant eligibility would depend on a state’s ability to meet several criteria, like having a partnership with a private entity that would help with administrative work and provide, at the very least, paid leave benefits for the birth or adoption of a child. Juliann Ventura, The Hill, 17 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for at the (very) least 

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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 25 Dec. 2024.

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