numerous

adjective

nu·​mer·​ous ˈnü-mə-rəs How to pronounce numerous (audio)
ˈnüm-rə-;
ˈnyü-mə-
ˈnyüm-rə-
Synonyms of numerous
: 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
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.
Authorities said numerous first responders began experiencing symptoms including nausea and dizziness. Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2026 Netflix has numerous murder mysteries available to stream, ranging from Rian Johnson's Knives Out whodunits Glass Onion (2022) and Wake Up Dead Man (2025), and cozy mysteries like The Thursday Murder Club (2025). Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026 Brexton is Busch’s 11-year-old son who has already begun following in his father’s footsteps and has racked up numerous wins in races around the country. Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 22 May 2026 But there will also be numerous food trucks on site. Kendrick Calfee may 22, Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for numerous

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Numerous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/numerous. Accessed 23 May. 2026.

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

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