number

noun

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num·ber | \ ˈnəm-bər

Definition of number

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a(1) : a sum of units : total the number of people in the hall

(2) : complement sense 1b(1) … the whole number of Senators … — U.S. Constitution

(3) : an indefinite usually large total a number of members were absent the number of elderly is rising

(4) numbers plural : a numerous group : many numbers died on the way— Marjory S. Douglas

(5) : a numerical preponderance (see preponderance sense 2) There's safety in numbers.

b(1) : the characteristic of an individual by which it is treated as a unit or of a collection by which it is treated in terms of units there is a limited number of such laboratories— P. D. Close

(2) : an ascertainable total bugs beyond number

c(1) : a unit belonging to an abstract mathematical system and subject to specified laws of succession, addition, and multiplication a number divisible by 2 especially : natural number

(2) : an element (such as π) of any of many mathematical systems obtained by extension of or analogy with the natural number system

(3) numbers plural : arithmetic Teach children their numbers.

2 : a distinction of word form to denote reference to one or more than one A subject and its verb should agree in number. also : a form or group of forms so distinguished

3 numbers plural

a(1) : metrical structure : meter … most by numbers judge a poet's song.— Alexander Pope

(2) : metrical lines : verses These numbers will I tear, and write in prose.— Shakespeare

b archaic : musical sounds : notes

4a : a word, symbol, letter, or combination of symbols representing a number Spell out the numbers one through ten.

b : a numeral or combination of numerals or other symbols used to identify or designate dialed the wrong number

c(1) : a member of a sequence or collection designated by especially consecutive numbers (such as an issue of a periodical) just received issue number 8 of the magazine

(2) : a position in a numbered sequence You're number 7 on the waiting list.

d : a group of one kind not of their number

5 : one singled out from a group : individual: such as

a : girl, woman met an attractive number at the dance

b(1) : a musical, theatrical, or literary selection or production The actors broke into a song and dance number.

(2) : routine, act The comedian's number had the audience laughing out loud.

c : stunt, trick

d : an act of transforming or impairing tripped and did a number on her knee

e : an item of merchandise and especially clothing put that black velvet number with the sequins on the blonde dummy— Bennett Cerf

6 : insight into a person's ability or character had my number

7 numbers plural in form but singular or plural in construction

a : a form of lottery in which an individual wagers on the appearance of a certain combination of digits (as in regularly published numbers)

— called also numbers game

b : policy entry 2 sense 2a

8 numbers plural

a : figures representing amounts of money usually in dollars spent, earned, or involved We won't be able to stay in business with numbers like these.

b(1) : statistics sense 2 especially : individual statistics (as of an athlete) Her numbers make her the most valuable member of the team.

(2) : rating sense 3c

9 : a person represented by a number or considered without regard to individuality at the university I was just a number

10 : lifetime sense 1a —used with up the old feeling that comes to men in combat … that your number was up— Geoffrey Norman

by the numbers

1 : in unison to a specific count or cadence

2 : in a systematic, routine, or mechanical manner a program run not by the numbers but with concern for the participants

number

verb

numbered; numbering\ ˈnəm-b(ə-)riŋ

Definition of number (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : count, enumerate

2 : to claim as part of a total : include

3 : to restrict to a definite number your days are numbered

4 : to assign a number to number the pages

5 : to amount to in number : total the crew numbers 100

intransitive verb

1 : to reach a total number

2 : to call off numbers in sequence

Other Words from number Synonyms Amount vs. Number: Usage Guide More Example Sentences Learn More about number

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Synonyms for number

Synonyms: Noun

Synonyms: Verb

Amount vs. Number: Usage Guide

Noun

Number is regularly used with count nouns a large number of mistakes any number of times while amount is mainly used with mass nouns. annual amount of rainfall a substantial amount of money The use of amount with count nouns has been frequently criticized; it usually occurs when the number of things is thought of as a mass or collection glad to furnish any amount of black pebbles — New Yorker a substantial amount of film offers — Lily Tomlin or when money is involved. a substantial amount of loans — E. R. Black

Examples of number in a Sentence

Noun the numbers and letters on a license plate a three-digit number like 429 Think of a number between one and one hundred. 2, 4, 6, and 8 are even numbers; 1, 3, 5, and 7 are odd numbers. Never give out your credit card number to anyone over the phone. What's the account number on your electricity bill? The page numbers are on the top corner of each page. Today's winning lottery numbers are 17, 8, and 46. I'm waiting for the number 3 bus. Verb She numbers and arranges the photographs according to when they were taken. Each print is signed and numbered by the artist. The team's coach bought all the players numbered jerseys. In that year, European settlers in the area numbered nearly 15,000. The animal, which once numbered in the millions, is now extinct. He numbers her with the other great poets of the time.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The repealed rules include doing away with limits on the number of diners or customers allowed indoors, said Abbott, who made the announcement at a restaurant in Lubbock. — Arkansas Online, "Texas becomes biggest U.S. state to lift covid-19 mask mandate," 2 Mar. 2021 Both received doses in the federal pharmacy partnership for vaccinating long-term care patients and facility staff, in which doses were allotted based on the number of beds in a facility and an estimate of total staff working there. — Los Angeles Times, "CVS, Walgreens challenge Newsom’s comments about unused doses in California," 2 Mar. 2021 Since its inception, the nation has elected presidents through the Electoral College, as written in the U.S. Constitution, which awards states electoral votes based on the number of lawmakers who represent them in the U.S. House and Senate. — Tim Gruver, Washington Examiner, "Oregon secretary of state joins nonprofit backing abolition of the Electoral College," 2 Mar. 2021 There is no limitation on number of employees in order to qualify for the ERC. — Lynn Mucenski Keck, Forbes, "Employee Retention Tax Credit: Reevaluating Small Employer Status To Increase Cash Payments," 1 Mar. 2021 Iowa’s governor recently lifted mask requirements and limits on the number of people allowed in bars and restaurants, while the town of Lawrence, home to the University of Kansas, now lets establishments stay open until midnight. — Heather Hollingsworth, Anchorage Daily News, "States are easing pandemic restrictions despite warnings from experts against haste," 1 Mar. 2021 State officials declined to provide estimates on how much money each district could get, given the amounts would vary depending on the number of low-income families, English learners and foster youth enrolled. — Jill Tucker, San Francisco Chronicle, "Bay Area districts cheer California schools deal but will it help them reopen sooner?," 1 Mar. 2021 The guidelines call for face masks, social distancing, limits on the number of spectators and other protocols, but how widely will they be followed and enforced? — John Wilkens, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Young athletes are eager to get back on the field after COVID ‘blew everything up’," 28 Feb. 2021 And to cut down on the number of people in one place, Yankees pitchers and catchers have been practicing at the club’s minor league facility, which is just over a mile away from Steinbrenner Field. — James Wagner, New York Times, "Yankees Feel Butterflies Before Playing in Front of a Crowd," 28 Feb. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb However, the death rate among Blacks, who number about 473,000 in Arkansas, has been almost the same as that for the 2.4 million whites. — Lara Farrar, Arkansas Online, "Vaccine equity at issue," 21 Feb. 2021 So don’t number your entries; don’t group several entries under a single header. — Washington Post, "Style Conversational Week 1424: It’s hive time for another Spelling Bee contest," 18 Feb. 2021 Some states, including Florida, Alaska, Michigan and Texas, have already begun vaccinating people 65 and older — who number more than 50 million nationwide — leading to long lines and confusion over how to receive a shot. — New York Times, "States Told to Vaccinate Everyone 65 and Over as Deaths Surge," 12 Jan. 2021 Annual line-of-duty deaths for corrections officers typically number about a dozen. — Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, "Why protecting prisons from COVID-19 is everyone’s problem," 13 Jan. 2021 Under dark skies, the Perseids usually number 50 to 75 per hour. — oregonlive, "Stargazing calendar 2021: Eclipses, meteor showers and other astronomical events this year," 30 Dec. 2020 Aside from possible cloud cover, the waning gibbous moon during the meteor shower’s peak will make the meteors harder to see, which under dark skies would number about 25 per hour. — oregonlive, "Stargazing calendar 2021: Eclipses, meteor showers and other astronomical events this year," 30 Dec. 2020 Ohioans age 65 and older, who number about 1.8 million. — Randy Ludlow, The Enquirer, "Teachers and school staff will be in next Ohio COVID-19 vaccine group, DeWine says," 23 Dec. 2020 The new rules would affect Chinese Communist Party members, who number around 92 million, and their close relatives. — Washington Post, "Trump restricts U.S. visas for Chinese Communist Party members and families," 3 Dec. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'number.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.