many

1 of 3

adjective

ˈme-nē 

more ˈmȯr  ; most ˈmōst 

1

: consisting of or amounting to a large but indefinite number

worked for many years

the many advantages of an education

2

: being one of a large but indefinite number

many a man

many another student

see also:

as many

many

2 of 3

pronoun

plural in construction

: a large number of persons or things

many are called

many

3 of 3

noun

plural in construction

1

: a large but indefinite number

a good many of them

2

: the great majority of people

the many

Synonyms of many

Adjective

• numerous
• multiple
• several
• countless

Examples of many in a Sentence

Adjective

a journey of many miles begins with a single step

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Some of the most accomplished actors in the business are among this year’s Oscar nominees in the acting categories, but, in the films for which they’ve been nominated, many of them are partnered by actors who have little or no training and have never (or hardly ever) acted in movies. —Richard Brody, New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2026

The controversy around ‘mipymes’ Cuba’s private sector has a bad reputation in Miami, where many local politicians and activists have insisted that most businesses are really connected to the Cuban government or are owned by members of the elite in power. —Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2026

Levin said many of his constituents have expressed concerns about ICE, often when raids take place in his district. —Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026

The union representing many of the agency’s 880 employees blasted the board on Tuesday. —Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective, Pronoun, and Noun

Middle English, from Old English manig; akin to Old High German manag many, Old Church Slavic mŭnogŭ much

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Pronoun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1525, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing many

• a good many
• as many as
• great/good many
• half again as much/many as
• half as much/many again as
• have a few too many
• how many
• How many times
• in many ways
• in so many words
• make many demands on
• many a/an
• many and various
• many hands make light work
• (many) happy returns
• many moons
• many/plenty more fish in the sea
• many-sided
• many's the
• many-valued
• not many
• one too many
• so many
• that many
• the many
• too many to count
• wear many hats

Rhymes for many

• any
• bennie
• benny
• henny
• jenny
• penny
• antennae
• halfpenny
• propene
• sixpenny
• threepenny
• twopenny

Kids Definition

many

1 of 3 adjective

ˈmen-ē 

more ˈmō(ə)r 

ˈmȯ(ə)r

; most ˈmōst 

1

: amounting to a large number

worked for many years

2

: being one of a large but indefinite number

told many a tale

many

2 of 3 pronoun

: a large number

many of the students were late

many

3 of 3 noun

: a large but indefinite number

a good many of them