many a/an

idiom

formal + literary
used with a singular noun to refer to a large number of things or people
I've been there many a time.
Many a tale was told.
Many a man has tried but few men have succeeded.

Examples of many a/an in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The press — no less the Room 9 press corps — can be a tough bunch and have tried the patience of many a mayor. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 22 June 2025 Supporters acknowledge the Bakehouse plans, the product of years of hard work, may seem forbiddingly imposing, especially in Miami, where many a high-minded scheme has come to naught. Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 20 June 2025 Shortly after taking office, Trump appointed him the head of a new government agency: the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, which sent many a federal worker packing. Charles Trepany, USA Today, 7 June 2025 After shaking a few hands and taking many a selfies, the pair walked into an awaiting elevator to go surprise more ticket holders. Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for many a/an

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Many a/an.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/many%20a%2Fan. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!