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
Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 23 June 2025
When a parent disappears Foundation for Early Childhood Education, a Head Start provider with 20 centers in East L.A. that cares for about 500 children, said federal agents have been spotted near several of their centers based at housing projects.
—Jenny Gold, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2025
In Times Square on Saturday evening, several people told the Daily News that the U.S. attack on Iran had left them feeling skeptical and scared.
—Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 22 June 2025
Advocacy efforts highlighted several priorities, including passing the Safe Step Act to prevent insurance companies from forcing patients to fail on cheaper medications before approving the treatment originally prescribed by their doctors.
—Julienne Verdi, Boston Herald, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for several
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Adjective
Advertisement Advertisement The Gilded Age is fiction, but informed deeply by history, with several characters that are based on real people.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 23 June 2025
When a parent disappears Foundation for Early Childhood Education, a Head Start provider with 20 centers in East L.A. that cares for about 500 children, said federal agents have been spotted near several of their centers based at housing projects.
—Jenny Gold, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2025
In Times Square on Saturday evening, several people told the Daily News that the U.S. attack on Iran had left them feeling skeptical and scared.
—Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 22 June 2025
Advocacy efforts highlighted several priorities, including passing the Safe Step Act to prevent insurance companies from forcing patients to fail on cheaper medications before approving the treatment originally prescribed by their doctors.
—Julienne Verdi, Boston Herald, 22 June 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 30 Jun. 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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