chiefly formal great in quantity or extent

I have much pleasure in proposing this motion

used with a negative word to suggest or emphasize smallness of quantity or extent

not much money

We don't have much money

used in questions about quantity or extent

How much milk is there?

used with a negative word to suggest or emphasize smallness of degree or extent

She's not much better off than she was before

used in questions about degree or extent

How much happier are they, though?

a great quantity, amount, or part

so much to do

not much of a help

used with a negative word to suggest inferiority or smallness

was not much to look at

used with a negative word to suggest or emphasize smallness of amount or extent

used to ask questions about amount or extent

How much did it cost?

a certain amount

I'll say this much for him, he tries