as much as meaning: definition, quotations

as much as

adv

Practically, just as, no less than; indicates an action tantamount to, but not identical to, the action described.

She as much as admitted to lying.
Theridimas my friend, take here my hand, Which is as much as if I ſwore by heauen, And call’d the Gods to witneſſe of my vowe, […]c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act I, scene ii:

1 more example

It's too damn foolish; why he as much as said so himself.1921 February, Edwin Balmer, “Settled Down”, in Everybody's Magazine, volume 44, number 2, page 50:

So much as, even.

For as soon as he as much as took out his pince-nez to read the newspaper, the privy councilor's wife was his advance trumpeter, who sounded the fanfare and said, "Now Papa puts on his eyes."2005, Brigitte Goldstein, transl., Mr. Brecher's Fiasco, →ISBN, page 154:

conj

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see as, much.

Used to say that two things are equal in amount or degree

He likes caramel as much as he likes fudge.
The second union panel, "The Future of Clerical and Service Work: Unionization," consisted entirely of union organizers […] each stressed the need for grassroots organizing, coalitions, and community involvement, and seemed to view the government as an adversary as much as an ally.1985 December 7, Pam Mitchell, Stephanie Poggi, “Feminists & the State Discuss Women at Work”, in Gay Community News, volume 13, number 21, page 6:

Used to say that an amount is as large as another amount

Even though; despite the fact that; much as.

As much as I dislike him, I still voted for him.
For as much as the Downton Abbey alum has capitalized on his leading-man presentability—how suited he is to wearing suits—his best performances play deviously on that quality.2021 September 16, A. A. Dowd, “Dan Stevens as a dashing robot lover? That computes”, in AV Club: