fairly/very

Từ điển Oxford Learners Wordfinder Dictionary

1 to some degree
2 to a great degree
3 to a greater or lesser degree
4 as much as possible
5 too much

1 to some degree
- to a small degree: a little, (more informal) a (little) bit
I thought it was a little odd that no one else at the party had come in fancy dress. ◎ We'll have to walk a bit faster. ◎ 'How are you?' 'A bit better, thanks.' ◎ She's a little bit too cautious to be a really successful manager.
Note: a (little) bit can also be used with of plus a noun:
I have to admit that not getting that job is a bit of a disappointment.
- to some extent; more than a little, but not very: fairly, quite, rather, (more informal) pretty
He told me my essay was fairly good but needed more examples. ◎ 'Do you like my new dress?' 'Well it's quite nice, but I think green would suit you better.' ◎ 'I have to say I was rather disappointed by the play.' 'Yes it was pretty awful, wasn't it?'
- to a certain degree, compared with sth else: relatively
The crossword in the Telegraph is relatively easy.
Note: fairly and quite are weaker than rather and pretty; fairly often has a more positive meaning than rather:
I'm fairly happy with your progress. ◎ I thought the lecture today was rather boring. If you use rather with a positive word, it sounds as if you are surprised or pleased: He's rather good actually, isn't he?
- Quite and rather can be used with a verb:
I rather/quite like George, but I can't stand his wife.
- Quite a and rather a can be used with a noun:
She's quite a kind person really. ◎ The lecture was rather a bore, but the party afterwards was fun.
- Rather (but not fairly, quite or pretty) can be used with comparatives:
rather warmer
- Quite has two meanings: (1) rather (see above); (2) completely (see below).
- to the necessary degree: enough, (formal) sufficiently
strong/hard/long enough for this purpose ◎ I don't like it enough to want to buy it. ◎ It's sufficiently powerful to pull two trailers.

2 to a great degree
- (used to make an adjective or adverb stronger) to a great degree: very, (more informal) really
I'm very pleased with your work - you've improved a lot. ◎ a really enjoyable holiday ◎ a really beautifully painted ceiling
- (used to make a comparative adjective stronger): much, very much, far, a lot
He's much better now. ◎ This book is far easier to understand than the last one I read. ◎ a lot more interesting
- (used to make a superlative adjective stronger): very
the very highest quality
- (used to make a verb stronger): very much, a lot, really
I think they liked your speech very much. ◎ He has suffered a lot. ◎ I really admire your parents.
- to emphasize 'very' you can add indeed
The traffic was moving very slowly indeed.
※—† stronger than very
- to a very great degree: extremely, terribly, (informal) awfully
an extremely foolish action ◎ It's all gone terribly wrong. ◎ That's awfully kind of you.
- to such a great extent that it is difficult to believe: incredibly, unbelievably, amazingly
The exam was incredibly difficult. ◎ She looks amazingly well.
Note: these adverbs have corresponding adjectives (extreme, terrible, great, awful; incredible, unbelievable, amazing) which you can use to express similar meanings:
extreme foolishness ◎ a terrible mistake ◎ incredible difficulty

3 to a greater or lesser degree
- to a greater degree: more
a far more interesting film ◎ I want that house more than anything else in the world.
- to the greatest degree: most
Which book did you enjoy most?
- to a greater degree than others: particularly, especially
I found this book particularly interesting. ◎ The other route is especially beautiful.
- to a smaller degree: less
a less well known artist ◎ I now respect her even less than I used to.
- to the smallest degree: least
He's probably my least favourite person.

4 as much as possible
- to the greatest possible degree: completely, totally, quite, absolutely
I'm completely exhausted. ◎ She's totally committed to the company. ◎ There are two quite different courses. ◎ I'm absolutely certain I gave it to you.
- to the greatest possible degree (especially when you are talking about sth bad): utterly
That's utterly ridiculous!
Note: completely, totally and absolutely have corresponding adjectives (complete, total, absolute) which you can use to express similar meanings:
complete exhaustion ◎ total commitment ◎ absolute certainty
※ not completely ALMOST
- completely and only: simply, perfectly, purely
It simply didn't occur to him to ask. ◎ a perfectly wonderful evening ◎ for purely selfish reasons
- (used to make negative forms stronger) absolutely not: not at all, not a bit, not in the least
He's not at all as I imagined. ◎ I'm not a bit tired. ◎ Surprisingly, she didn't seem in the least worried about it.

5 too much
- to a greater extent than is good, allowed or possible: too, over-
I was told I was too old to apply for the job. ◎ I always eat too much at Christmas. ◎ over-enthusiastic ◎ over-excited ◎ to overwork ◎ to overspend
- to a greater extent than is necessary: excessively, unduly
excessively high wages ◎ I'm not unduly worried about him - he's often late.