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
For example, these premiums would at the very least double on average for enrollees in 12 states using Healthcare.gov who are now eligible for the tax credit.
—
Rhett Buttle, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
The Star spoke with five SSA workers who raised concerns that the swift reductions risk endangering the timely delivery of Social Security benefits or at the very least questioned whether cuts will harm customer service in a four-state region with millions of monthly benefit recipients.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2025
After the school board voted in January to close the school, there has been a flurry of activity in the Lauderhill neighborhood to combat — or at the very least alter— the district’s plan.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2025
Many of these get trapped by my email spam filter, but others arrive via annoying texts and calls that, at the very least, waste my time.
—Larry Magid, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 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.
Rhett Buttle, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
The Star spoke with five SSA workers who raised concerns that the swift reductions risk endangering the timely delivery of Social Security benefits or at the very least questioned whether cuts will harm customer service in a four-state region with millions of monthly benefit recipients.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2025
After the school board voted in January to close the school, there has been a flurry of activity in the Lauderhill neighborhood to combat — or at the very least alter— the district’s plan.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2025
Many of these get trapped by my email spam filter, but others arrive via annoying texts and calls that, at the very least, waste my time.
—Larry Magid, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 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 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share