several

1 of 2

adjective

sev·​er·​al ˈse-və-rəl 

ˈsev-rəl

1

a

: separate or distinct from one another

federal union of the several states

b(1)

: individually owned or controlled : exclusive

a several fishery

compare common

(2)

: of or relating separately to each individual involved

a several judgment

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

several

2 of 2

pronoun

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

Adjective

That flexibility makes flow batteries particularly relevant to long-duration storage, where systems may need to deliver electricity for several hours rather than simply provide short bursts of backup power. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 Sep. 2026

While alcohol has been closely linked to several types of cancer, including mouth, throat, liver and breast cancer, its connections to other types of cancer like stomach and pancreatic cancer are still being investigated, researchers said. — Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026

Attendees noted that several of the victims on 9/11 were Muslim or Arab American. — Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 12 Sep. 2026

Four days after the attacks, searchers recovered Biggart’s body near several firefighters. — Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin separalis, from Latin separ separate, back-formation from separare to separate

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Pronoun

1639, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing several

• go our/their/your several ways
• on all/several counts
• several dozen

Kids 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

-ē

adverb

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

severally adverb

Etymology

Adjective

Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin separalis, from Latin separ separate