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
Alison Herman, Variety, 5 May 2025
The prophecy has sparked the imagination of believers, Catholic and otherwise, at several successions of popes.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 4 May 2025
Tennis Hall of Famer Andre Agassi has been making serious inroads into the burgeoning world of pickleball, both personally and professionally, over the last several years.
—Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
People could be heard screaming and crying in the video, which appeared to show several people injured on the ground and baggage strewn about, as first responders attended to the scene.
—Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 4 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for several
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Adjective
McBride wrote the premiere’s cold open — in which Elijah murders a preacher while robbing his collection box, then assumes his identity — several years ago.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 5 May 2025
The prophecy has sparked the imagination of believers, Catholic and otherwise, at several successions of popes.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 4 May 2025
Tennis Hall of Famer Andre Agassi has been making serious inroads into the burgeoning world of pickleball, both personally and professionally, over the last several years.
—Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
People could be heard screaming and crying in the video, which appeared to show several people injured on the ground and baggage strewn about, as first responders attended to the scene.
—Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 4 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 9 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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