numerous

adjective

nu·​mer·​ous ˈnü-mə-rəs How to pronounce numerous (audio)
ˈnüm-rə-;
ˈnyü-mə-,
ˈnyüm-rə-
: consisting of great numbers of units or individuals
born into a numerous family
also : many
received numerous complaints
The people I'd like to thank are too numerous to mention.
numerously adverb
numerousness noun

Examples of numerous in a Sentence

She decided to leave for numerous reasons. The birds are becoming more numerous in this area.
Recent Examples on the Web This South Asian drink combines tea, spices and milk and is known for its sweet taste and numerous health benefits. Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2024 China’s emergence as a global manufacturer at the start of the 21st century involved a range of products across numerous industries: clothing and textiles, electronics, furniture, and industrial equipment. David J. Lynch, Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2024 In numerous states, delta-8 has been banned through laws that were implemented either before or after the 2018 Farm Bill or administrative rules. Madeline Nguyen, The Arizona Republic, 18 Mar. 2024 The women say that despite the arrests and charges brought against numerous staff members, abuse has continued. Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2024 Her talents are numerous as seen in her involvement in our theatre, dance, and choral music programs. Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2024 Of the numerous studies presented, only one explicitly focused on wildland firefighters. ProPublica, 16 Mar. 2024 The mat is available in five different sizes and numerous color options. Lee Alisha Williams, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2024 Former colleagues, political officials and Jackson himself have all described his strategy of providing complimentary, round-the-clock care to numerous White House officials and even their friends and family. Alex Horton, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'numerous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Latin numerōsus, from numerus number entry 2 + -ōsus -ous

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of numerous was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near numerous

Cite this Entry

“Numerous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/numerous. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

numerous

adjective
nu·​mer·​ous ˈn(y)üm-(ə-)rəs How to pronounce numerous (audio)
: consisting of great numbers
numerous friends
numerously adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on numerous

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