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More vs. Much — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 5, 2023
More" is a comparative modifier for both countable and uncountable nouns. "Much" is primarily used with uncountable nouns to indicate a large amount.
More vs. Much — What's the Difference?

Difference Between More and Much

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Key Differences

More" and "Much" are both quantifiers in the English language, helping to express the quantity of something. While they sometimes overlap in their functions, there are distinct rules governing when and how each should be used, making them unique in their own right.
"More" stands as a comparative term and can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns. When "More" is employed, it usually indicates an additional or greater quantity or degree of something in comparison to another. For example, "She has more books than him" and "I need more water" showcase the word's versatility with both types of nouns.
On the other hand, "Much" specifically targets uncountable nouns, pointing to a large quantity. It's commonly found in negative statements and questions. Phrases like "I don't have much time" or "How much sugar do you want?" aptly capture its primary usage.
However, there's a note of caution. While "Much" may be used in affirmative statements, it's more typical in formal contexts or when emphasizing a significant amount. For instance, "Much has been said about the topic" sounds formal and emphasizes the extensive discussion on the subject. "More", being more versatile, doesn't carry such limitations and easily fits into various contexts.
In sum, while both "More" and "Much" serve to quantify, "More" has a broader range, fitting both countable and uncountable nouns, whereas "Much" narrows its focus mainly to uncountable nouns and finds frequent usage in questions and negatives.
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Comparison Chart

Type of Nouns

Used with both countable and uncountable nouns.
Primarily used with uncountable nouns.

Common Usages

Comparative situations and general statements.
Questions, negative statements, and formal affirmatives.

Example with Count

"She has more pencils."
N/A

Example with Uncount

"He needs more water."
"He doesn't have much water."

Formal Usage

Fits both formal and informal contexts without emphasis.
Used in affirmative statements in formal contexts.

Compare with Definitions

More

Additional or further.
Would you like more coffee?

Much

Often or a lot.
It doesn't rain much here.

More

To a greater extent.
He's more interested in music than sports.

Much

Nearly, approximately.
The project is much as it was a year ago.

More

Beyond a certain point.
The task will take more than an hour.

Much

A large amount
I didn't get much sleep that night
They must bear much of the blame
I did so much shopping
He does not eat much

More

Greater in number
A hall with more seats.

Much

A large amount
I didn't get much sleep that night
They must bear much of the blame
He does not eat much
I did so much shopping

More

Greater in size, amount, extent, or degree
More land.
More support.

Much

To a great extent; a great deal
Thanks very much
They look much better
Did it hurt much?
They did not mind, much to my surprise

More

Additional; extra
She needs some more time.

Much

Great in quantity, degree, or extent
Not much rain.
Much affection.

More

A greater or additional quantity, number, degree, or amount
The more I see of you the more I like you.

Much

A large quantity or amount
Much has been written.

More

To or in a greater extent or degree
Loved him even more.

Much

Something great or remarkable
The campus wasn't much to look at.

More

Used to form the comparative of many adjectives and adverbs
More difficult.
More softly. See Usage Note at perfect.

Much

To a great degree or extent
Much smarter.

More

In addition
Phoned twice more.

Much

Just about; almost
Much the same.

More

Moreover; furthermore.

Much

Frequently; often
Doesn't get out much.

More

Comparative of many
There are more ways to do this than I can count.

Much

A large amount of.
Hurry! We don't have much time!
They set about the task with much enthusiasm.

More

Senseid|en|comparative form of much}} {{comparative of much
There's more caffeine in my coffee than in the coffee you get in most places.

Much

(in combinations such as 'as much', 'this much') Used to indicate, demonstrate or compare the quantity of something.
Add this much water and no more.
Take as much time as you like.

More

Additional; further.
If you run out, there are more bandages in the first aid cupboard.
More people are arriving.
I want more soup.
I need more time.

Much

A great number of; many (people).

More

Bigger, stronger, or more valuable.
He is more than the ten years he spent behind bars at our local prison, as he is a changed man and his past does not define him.

Much

Many ( + plural countable noun).

More

To a greater degree or extent.
I like cake, but I like chocolate more.
I could no more climb that than fly!
More advanced students.
I have more than carried out my obligation.
I have no complaints and no more does my mom.

Much

(obsolete) Large, great.

More

Used to form the comparative form of adjectives and adverbs.
You're more beautiful than I ever imagined.

Much

(obsolete) Long in duration.

More

In negative constructions: any further, any longer; any more.

Much

To a great extent.
I don't like fish much. I don’t much care for strawberries either.
He is much fatter than I remember him.
He left her, much to the satisfaction of her other suitor.
That boyfriend of yours is much {like - the same as} the others.
My English was much the worst, and I'm certainly not much good at math either.
Honestly, I can't stand much more of this.
Both candidates, who are much of an age, say much the same thing, but the youngest shows much the commoner behavior of the two.

More

Used in addition to an inflected comparative form.
I was more better at English than you.

Much

Often; frequently.
Does he get drunk much?

More

A greater number or quantity (of something).
We're running out of napkins. I should have bought more.
There isn't enough salt in this. You need to add more.

Much

(in combinations such as 'as much', 'this much') Used to indicate or compare extent.
I don't like Wagner as much as I like Mozart.

More

An extra or additional quantity (of something).
There aren't many people here yet, but more should be arriving soon.

Much

(obsolete) Almost.

More

Comparative of many
Last year’s applications received from new and returning students were more than each of the previous four years.

Much

A large amount or great extent.
From those to whom much has been given much is expected.
We lay awake for much of the night.

More

Comparative of much

Much

Great in quantity; long in duration; as, much rain has fallen; much time.
Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in.

More

(obsolete) A carrot; a parsnip.

Much

Many in number.
Edom came out against him with much people.

More

(dialectal) A root; stock.

Much

High in rank or position.

More

(dialectal) A plant; flower; shrub.

Much

A great quantity; a great deal; also, an indefinite quantity; as, you have as much as I.
He that gathered much had nothing over.

More

(transitive) To root up.

Much

A thing uncommon, wonderful, or noticeable; something considerable.
And [he] thought not much to clothe his enemies.

More

A hill.

Much

To a great degree or extent; greatly; abundantly; far; nearly.
Thou art much mightier than we.
Excellent speech becometh not a fool, much less do lying lips a prince.
Henceforth I fly not death, nor would prolongLife much.
All left the world much as they found it.

More

A root.

Much

A great amount or extent;
They did much for humanity

More

A greater quantity, amount, or number; that which exceeds or surpasses in any way what it is compared with.
And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less.

Much

(quantifier used with mass nouns) great in quantity or degree or extent;
Not much rain
Much affection
Much grain is in storage

More

That which is in addition; something other and further; an additional or greater amount.
They that would have more and more can never have enough.
O! That pang where more than madness lies.

Much

To a great degree or extent;
She's much better now

More

Greater; superior; increased;
He gat more money.
If we procure not to ourselves more woe.
Whilst sisters nine, which dwell on Parnasse height,Do make them music for their more delight.
The more part knew not wherefore they were come together.
Wrong not that wrong with a more contempt.

Much

Very;
He was much annoyed

More

Greater in number; exceeding in numbers; - with the plural.
The people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we.

Much

To a very great degree or extent;
We enjoyed ourselves very much
She was very much interested
This would help a great deal

More

Additional; other; as, he wept because there were no more worlds to conquer.
With open arms received one poet more.

Much

(degree adverb used before a noun phrase) for all practical purposes but not completely;
Much the same thing happened every time

More

In a greater quantity; in or to a greater extent or degree.
Admiring moreThe riches of Heaven's pavement.

Much

Frequently or in great quantities;
I don't drink much
I don't travel much

More

With an adjective or adverb (instead of the suffix -er) to form the comparative degree; as, more durable; more active; more sweetly.
Happy here, and more happy hereafter.
The duke of MilanAnd his more braver daughter.

Much

A large quantity or amount.
I don't have much patience left.

More

In addition; further; besides; again.
Yet once more, O ye laurels, and once more,Ye myrtles brown, with ivy never sere,I come to pluck your berries harsh and crude.
Those oracles which set the world in flames,Nor ceased to burn till kingdoms were no more.

Much

To a great extent or degree.
His work was much admired.

More

To make more; to increase.

Much

Emphasizing the great quantity of something.
Much has been written about the event.

More

English statesman who opposed Henry VIII's divorce from Catherine of Aragon and was imprisoned and beheaded; recalled for his concept of Utopia, the ideal state

More

(comparative of `much' used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree;
More land
More support
More rain fell
More than a gallon

More

(comparative of `many' used with count nouns) quantifier meaning greater in number;
A hall with more seats
We have no more bananas
More than one

More

Existing or coming by way of addition;
An additional problem
Further information
There will be further delays
Took more time

More

Used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs;
More interesting
More beautiful
More quickly

More

Comparative of much; to a greater degree or extent;
He works more now
They eat more than they should

More

Greater in number or size.
She has more cookies than he does.

More

Used to form the comparative of adjectives.
This puzzle is more difficult than the last.

Common Curiosities

Can "more" indicate a comparative degree?

Yes, "more" often denotes a greater degree or quantity.

Can "much" be used in positive statements?

While possible, it's more common in formal contexts or for emphasis.

Is "much" mainly for uncountable nouns?

Yes, "much" is primarily used with uncountable nouns.

Which is broader in application, "more" or "much"?

"More" has a broader application, fitting various contexts and noun types.

Is "much" often found in questions?

Yes, "much" is commonly used in questions, like "How much sugar?"

Is "more" also used as a comparative for adjectives?

Yes, for example, "more beautiful" or "more interesting."

Does "much" imply a significant amount in formal contexts?

Yes, in statements like "Much attention was given."

Can "more" indicate something beyond a certain point?

Yes, like "more than a year" or "more than I expected."

Can "much" denote frequency?

Yes, as in "It doesn't rain much here."

Is "much" often paired with "too" to indicate excess?

Yes, like "too much sugar."

Can "more" be used with both countable and uncountable nouns?

Yes, "more" can be used with both types of nouns.

Can "much" mean approximately?

Yes, as in "The cost is much the same."

Can "more" be used with adverbs?

Yes, for example, "more quickly" or "more efficiently."

Do "more" and "much" always refer to positive quantities?

No, they can denote absence or lack, like "not much" or "no more."

Is "more" also used in the sense of "again"?

Yes, as in the request "Tell me more."

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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