Extremely vs Very

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Extremely

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 adverb

Very

Top 1,000 (very common) A1 adverb

	Extremely	Very
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ɪkˈstriːmli/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ɪkˈstriːmli/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈveri/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈveri/"]/
Meaning	Very much; to a very high degree.	used to emphasize something
Example	She was extremely happy about her exam results.	This cake is very delicious!
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	A2	A1
Part of speech	adverb	adverb
Collocations	extremely happy, extremely difficult, extremely important, extremely cold, extremely fast	very good, very bad, very happy, very important, very fast
Antonyms	slightly, moderately	not, slightly, somewhat
Common mistakes	Using 'extremely' with nouns, e.g., 'extremely happy person' instead of 'extremely happy'., Confusing 'extremely' with similar adverbs like 'really' for less intense expressions., Placing 'extremely' incorrectly in a sentence, altering the meaning.	Using 'very' with negative adjectives like 'bad' too much., Confusing with 'really' in casual conversation., Overusing 'very' can make writing less impactful.
Usage notes	Use 'extremely' to emphasize adjectives or adverbs. Appropriate in both spoken and written English, but avoid in casual contexts where simpler terms like 'really' may suffice.	Used to increase the intensity of adjectives or adverbs. Best for neutral situations; avoid in formal writing where 'extremely' may be preferred.

See it in real clips

Agent Carter › S1 E1

but she had a vicious tongue and extremely long...

Breaking Bad › S1 E3

I like the support. My arches happen to be extremely arch-y.

Breaking Bad › S1 E4

but they possess an extremely high skill set.

Agent Carter › S1 E1

but she had a vicious tongue and extremely long...

Breaking Bad › S1 E3

I like the support. My arches happen to be extremely arch-y.

Extremely

Frequently asked questions: Extremely vs Very

What's the difference between Extremely and Very?

Extremely: Very much; to a very high degree. Very: used to emphasize something

Which is more advanced: Extremely and Very?

Extremely is the highest level, at A2, on the CEFR scale.

Are Extremely and Very the same CEFR level?

Extremely: A2, Very: A1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Extremely and Very?

Extremely: adverb, Very: adverb.

Can you show an example of each?

Extremely: She was extremely happy about her exam results. Very: This cake is very delicious!

Can I use Extremely and Very interchangeably?

Not always. Extremely and Very are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.