sev·er·al
ˈse-və-rəl 
ˈsev-rəl
1
a
: separate or distinct from one another
federal union of the several states
c
: being separate and distinctive : respective
specialists in their several fields
2
a
: more than one
several pleas
b
: more than two but fewer than many
moved several inches
c
chiefly dialectal
: being a great many
plural in construction
: an indefinite number more than two and fewer than many
several of the guests
Examples of several in a Sentence
Adjective
It took several days for the package to arrive.
He arrived several hours ago.
We added several more names to the list.
The meat can be cooked several ways.
There are several similar stores at the mall.
a federal union of the several states
Recent Examples on the Web
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 18 May 2025
Fans shared several videos of Pascal’s antics at the famed festival, where the actor could be seen laughing and playfighting with Phoenix, 50, smiling with Stone, 36, and — as per usual — being the life of the party.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 17 May 2025
In Seminole County, a hotbed of bear encounters several years ago, has seen a dramatic decrease in conflicts with bears since implementing such non-lethal measures as the use of bear proof trash cans.
—Grant Gelhardt, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 May 2025
The director grew up around people battling addiction and has worked with charities dedicated to homelessness in his local East London community for several years.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for several
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Adjective
How often inmate escapes occur is dependent on several factors, Bryce Peterson, a senior research scientist at The Center for Justice Research and Innovation, told CBS News.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 18 May 2025
Fans shared several videos of Pascal’s antics at the famed festival, where the actor could be seen laughing and playfighting with Phoenix, 50, smiling with Stone, 36, and — as per usual — being the life of the party.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 17 May 2025
In Seminole County, a hotbed of bear encounters several years ago, has seen a dramatic decrease in conflicts with bears since implementing such non-lethal measures as the use of bear proof trash cans.
—Grant Gelhardt, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 May 2025
The director grew up around people battling addiction and has worked with charities dedicated to homelessness in his local East London community for several years.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for several
Cite this Entry
“Several.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/several. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
several
1 of 2 adjective
sev·er·al
ˈsev-(ə-)rəl
1
: separate or distinct from one another : different
federal union of the several states
2
: being more than two but not very many
several persons
severally
adverb
-ē
several
2 of 2 pronoun
: a small number : more than two but not very many
several of the guests
Legal Definition
several
adjective
sev·er·al
1
a
: of or relating separately to each individual involved
specifically
: enforceable separately against each party
each promisor owed a several duty
see also several liability at liability sense 2b, several obligation at obligation
b
: being separately or individually responsible, liable, or obligated
a several obligor
compare joint
2
: separate or distinct from one another
to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the several States—U.S. Constitution art. I
U.S. Constitution art. I
severally
adverb
Etymology
Adjective
Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin separalis, from Latin separ separate
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