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

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

Phrases

as many

: the same in number

saw three plays in as many days

Synonyms

Adjective

• beaucoup [slang]
• legion
• multifold
• multiple
• multiplex
• multitudinous
• numerous

Examples of many in a Sentence

Adjective

a journey of many miles begins with a single step

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The men — many of them who lost spouses themselves — completely understand. —Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 3 Oct. 2024

While many of Blue Jeans Go Green’s partners operate take-back programs in stores, Zappos offers mail-in collections, using its existing alliance with UPS for return labels and shipping. —Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 3 Oct. 2024

Meanwhile, the recent indictment, which was precipitated by a nearly yearlong FBI investigation featuring raids, cellphone confiscations, and subpoenas, has reduced Adams’s inner circle to a shell of its former self, as many of his closest allies in the New York City government have resigned. —Emily Hallas, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 3 Oct. 2024

Thirty or so minutes later, those planes were back in the sky and ferrying supplies from Concord-Padgett Regional Airport to communities across the flooded region, many of them almost completely cut off from the world by Hurricane Helene. —Corky Siemaszko, NBC News, 3 Oct. 2024

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

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