how many
idiom
—used to ask or talk about an amount
How many people were there?
I was surprised by how many people were there.
How many times do I have to tell you to lock the door?
Examples of how many in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Wildlife managers have no idea how many mountain lions roam the state because estimating populations is essentially impossible.
—
Ted Williams, Denver Post, 24 Feb. 2026
Some people may wonder about what legal authority DHS is using to demand identities and compile lists, how many accounts are involved, and whether prosecutions will follow.
—Stephanie A, The Conversation, 23 Feb. 2026
The sheriff's office has yet to disclose how many people were in the home at the time of the shooting.
—Nick Lentz, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
Well, roughly how many counties have impediments to new wind and solar?
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for how many
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Ted Williams, Denver Post, 24 Feb. 2026
Some people may wonder about what legal authority DHS is using to demand identities and compile lists, how many accounts are involved, and whether prosecutions will follow.
—Stephanie A, The Conversation, 23 Feb. 2026
The sheriff's office has yet to disclose how many people were in the home at the time of the shooting.
—Nick Lentz, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
Well, roughly how many counties have impediments to new wind and solar?
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for how many
Cite this Entry
“How many.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/how%20many. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
