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UK [mɔː(r)] / US [mɔr] adverb, determiner, pronoun

Summary:

More is the comparative form of much and many and can be used in the following ways: - as a determiner (followed by a noun): He wants to spend more time with his family. - as a pronoun: I wish I could do more to help. (followed by "of"): I'm not going to listen to any more of your lies. - as an adverb (before an adjective or another adverb): The stereos are more expensive in Japan than they are here. ♦ You should come and visit us more often. (used with a verb): I should like to travel more. - after numbers or expressions of quantity: There's one more question that we need to consider. ♦ You'll have to wait a few more minutes.
Get it right: more:
The expression more and more is used mainly in speech and informal writing. In academic and professional writing, the adverb increasingly is much more common:
Wrong: Europe is becoming more and more unified and therefore people are afraid of losing their own identity.
Right: Europe is becoming increasingly unified and therefore people are afraid of losing their own identity.
Wrong: Problems include the loss of national identity, more and more competitive lifestyles, and declining moral values.
Right: Problems include the loss of national identity, increasingly competitive lifestyles, and declining moral values.

1) having more of a particular quality used for saying that a particular quality is stronger in one person or thing than in another, stronger than it was before, or stronger than you expected or hoped

Scotland has become more prosperous in recent years.

Teenage marriages are more likely to end in divorce.

more ... than:

The storm was more violent than we expected.

much/far/a lot more:

Lizzie is obviously a lot more intelligent than the other girls.

a little/bit more:

Would you speak a little more slowly so I can understand what you're saying?

2) a larger amount or number an amount or number that is larger than another, larger than it was before, or larger than you expected

No matter what her brother gets, she always wants more.

more ... than:

Ken already earns more than his father ever did.

We've had five times more rain than normal for this time of the year.

much/far/a lot more:

The merger has created far more problems than it has solved.

more than ever:

People in the UK are spending more than ever on health and fitness.

3) happening more

a) happening or doing something a greater number of times, or for longer periods

You should get out more and meet other people.

Reducing the tax on petrol would simply encourage people to use their cars more.

see more of someone (= see someone more often):

I hope we'll see more of you when you've finished your course.

b) to a greater degree

more ... than:

Rural life has changed more in the last 40 years than at any other time.

I loved you more than anything else in the world.

4) additional used for showing that something is in addition to what already exists, what has been used, or what has already been mentioned

If you need more paper, there's some in the drawer.

That's all I know. I can't tell you any more.

one/two/three etc more:

We'll have to wait for two more days.

some/any more of something:

I'm not wasting any more of my money on lottery tickets.

more of the same:

Today there will be sunshine and showers. Tomorrow, more of the same.

more on that later (= used for saying that you will give details later):

There are a few changes to the programme – but more on that later.

no more:

We have no more money in the account.

nothing more:

There's nothing more to say.

5) one thing rather than another used for saying that one way of describing someone or something is truer or more accurate than another

more ... than:

What she did was more of a mistake than a crime.

I was more amused than shocked by what she told me.

The words were spoken more in sadness than in anger.

6) when something stops happening

a) not any more used for saying that something which used to happen in the past does not happen now

Mr Carling doesn't work here any more.

b) no more used for saying that the future will be different from the past because something has stopped happening

No more will prisoners have to suffer the misery of being locked in their cells for 23 hours a day.

No more worries about money now!

c) no more excuses/questions/secrets etc

spoken used for telling someone that they must stop making excuses/asking questions etc

No more excuses! If you're late again, you're sacked.

•

the more ... the more/less — used for saying that when a particular activity, feeling etc increases, it causes something else to change at the same time

The more fruit and vegetables you eat, the less chance you have of getting cancer.

The more I thought about Carrie's suggestion, the more doubtful I became.

more than likely/happy/ready etc — very likely, happy etc

It's more than likely that they will change the rules again next year.

I'd be more than happy to show you round our factory.

no more do/will/can/have I — British used after a negative statement to add another negative statement

"I don't understand a word of Greek." "No more do I," said Harry.

no/nothing/little more than — used for emphasizing that someone or something is not at all important or impressive

The ancient canal is now little more than a muddy ditch.

The governor treated our protests as nothing more than a minor nuisance.

- more and more

- the more the merrier

- more or less

- more than

- no more than

See:

fool I, often, once, pity I, what, little I