More means a greater amount or degree of something; in addition to what already exists; or to a greater extent than before. It functions as a determiner before nouns, an adverb before adjectives and verbs, and a pronoun when it stands alone.
What Does More Mean?
More descends from Old English māra, meaning "greater" or "larger", which is related to Old Norse meiri and Gothic maiza. The Proto-Germanic root *maizô carried the same sense of increase or excess. The word has remained essentially unchanged in meaning since the earliest Old English texts, making it one of the most ancient and stable words in the language.
In modern British English, more performs three distinct grammatical roles. As a determiner, it quantifies a noun: "We need more time." As an adverb, it forms comparatives with multi-syllable adjectives and adverbs: "The second test was more challenging." As a pronoun, it replaces a noun phrase already understood from context: "Would you like some more?"
More is also the comparative form shared by both much (uncountable) and many (countable). This dual role makes it unusually flexible: "more water" (uncountable) and "more questions" (countable) are both correct. Understanding this flexibility is essential for moving beyond A2 level fluency. See Cambridge Dictionary's full entry on “more” for more examples.
Example Sentences by CEFR Level
| Sentence | Level & note |
|---|---|
| Can I have more juice, please? | A2 — determiner with uncountable noun; polite request |
| She needs more practice with listening comprehension. | B1 — determiner in an ESL learning context; collocates with practice |
| The second chapter is more difficult than the first. | B1 — adverb forming a comparative with a two-syllable adjective |
| The government needs to invest considerably more in public transport if it hopes to reduce carbon emissions. | B2 — pronoun intensified by considerably; formal register |
| The more you immerse yourself in a language, the more naturally its patterns become embedded in your long-term memory. | C1 — the more … the more correlative construction; academic register |
Collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| more than enough | There is more than enough food for everyone. |
| more or less | The work is more or less finished — just a few details remain. |
| no more | There is no more bread; shall I buy some? |
| once more | Could you repeat that once more, please? |
| any more | I do not live there any more. |
| much more | The revised draft is much more coherent than the original. |
| far more | Far more students passed this year than last year. |
| even more | After the rain the air smelled even more fresh. |
| more and more | More and more people are choosing to work remotely. |
| the more … the more | The more you read, the more you learn. |
Usage Notes
- Determiner vs. pronoun: When a noun follows, more is a determiner ("more coffee"). When it stands alone, it is a pronoun ("Would you like more?").
- Comparative formation: Use more before adjectives and adverbs of two or more syllables ("more important", "more carefully"). Use the -er suffix for most one-syllable words ("bigger", "faster").
- Anymore vs. any more: In British English the two-word form any more is standard in statements and questions ("She doesn't work here any more"). The one-word form anymore is mainly American English.
- Register: Intensifiers such as considerably more, substantially more, and markedly more are preferred in formal and academic writing over informal a lot more.
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
This exercise is more easier than yesterday's.
This exercise is easier than yesterday's. (never combine more with a one-syllable -er comparative)
I don't live there anymore. (British English)
I don't live there any more. (two words is the British English standard)
She has more stronger arguments than her opponent.
She has stronger arguments than her opponent. (double comparative is not used in standard English)
Related Words
Practise This Word
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Frequently Asked Questions about “more”
What does more mean in English?
More means a greater amount, number, or degree. As a determiner: 'I need more time.' As an adverb: 'She speaks more clearly now.' As a pronoun: 'Would you like some more?' It is one of the most frequent words in English and is used across all CEFR levels.
What part of speech is more?
More can be a determiner ('more coffee'), an adverb ('more carefully', 'more than expected'), or a pronoun ('Is there any more?'). The same form is used for all three functions — context shows which part of speech it is.
What is the difference between more and most?
More is the comparative form of 'much' and 'many': it compares two things or quantities. Most is the superlative form: it refers to the greatest amount among three or more. 'She has more patience than her brother' (comparative); 'She has the most patience in the office' (superlative).
How do you use more to form comparatives?
Use more before adjectives and adverbs of two or more syllables: 'more difficult', 'more quickly'. For one-syllable adjectives, add -er instead: 'bigger', not 'more big'. Common exceptions include 'more fun' (informal) and 'more right' (in some contexts). Never use both: 'more bigger' is incorrect.
What is the difference between more and much more?
'More' alone marks a comparison. 'Much more' emphasises a large difference: 'This exercise is much more difficult than the last one.' Other intensifiers include 'far more', 'considerably more', and 'a great deal more'. These are common in formal and academic writing.
Can more be used with countable and uncountable nouns?
Yes. More works with both. With uncountable nouns: 'more water', 'more information'. With countable nouns: 'more students', 'more questions'. This differs from 'much' (uncountable only) and 'many' (countable only). This flexibility makes more extremely useful.
What does 'more or less' mean?
'More or less' is a fixed phrase meaning approximately or to a certain extent: 'The project is more or less finished.' It is used to hedge a statement, showing that something is nearly true but not entirely precise. It is common in spoken English and informal writing.
What is the opposite of more?
The direct opposite of more is less (for uncountable nouns and general degree) or fewer (for countable nouns). 'More people came than expected' — opposite: 'fewer people came'. 'More time' — opposite: 'less time'. The adverb opposite is 'less': 'She speaks more clearly' vs. 'She speaks less clearly'.
What is the etymology of the word more?
More comes from Old English 'māra' meaning greater or larger, related to Old Norse 'meiri' and Gothic 'maiza'. The Proto-Germanic root is '*maizô'. The word has existed in English since the earliest recorded texts and has retained its core meaning of greater amount or degree throughout.
How can I practise using more in English?
Try LexFizz's Complete the Sentence exercise to practise choosing between more, most, much, and many in context. Flash Cards can reinforce comparative structures such as 'more + adjective', and the Vocabulary Quiz tests collocations like 'more than enough' and 'more or less'. Reading graded readers at your level is also highly effective.