number 1 of 2

Definition of numbernext
1
as in digit
a character used to represent a mathematical value asked him to write out the equation in numbers, not letters

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2
as in composition
a literary, musical, or artistic production a doomsday novel that turns out to be one of those it-was-all-a-dream numbers

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3
as in act
a performance regularly presented by an individual or group a modern dance number

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4
5
as in feat
an act of notable skill, strength, or cleverness a stunning gymnastics number that really impressed the judges

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6
as in calculation
numbers plural the act or process of performing mathematical operations to find a value if you believe the president's numbers, we can afford these new programs and still have tax cuts

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number

2 of 2

verb

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of number
Noun
The number of applicants [for the fellowship] continues to rise. Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2026 And the next one should be a doozy, a deal that’s expected to hike his cap number from $9 million this season to $18 million or $19 million going forward. Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
The crowd numbered about two dozen as the rally began with protestors walking to the southwest corner of Wilder Park and lining up along Lake Street. David Sharos, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026 As the members of Joy Division worked to finish the band’s second album, Closer, their days were already numbered. Mark Richardson, Pitchfork, 28 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for number
Recent Examples of Synonyms for number
Noun
  • Changes to these privacy settings require a six-digit parent PIN set up while creating the account.
    Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 12 Mar. 2026
  • Gay only saw double-digit defensive snaps in five games last season, two of them being the final two games once the Dolphins were already eliminated from playoff contention.
    David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Lyon emphasized the significance of body composition in conditions like Alzheimer’s, dementia and mild cognitive impairment.
    Sandra Rose Salathe, Flow Space, 6 Mar. 2026
  • These life-size sculptures are fixed to walls with metal supports, placed on chairs to register bodily scale, or positioned on the floor in juxtaposition with larger compositions.
    Li Qi, Artforum, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Emirati authorities have warned Iranian officials that such a move was under consideration, the newspaper said, citing people familiar with the discussions, although no decision on whether, or when, to act has been reached.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026
  • The government insists the case has nothing to do with a free press, saying the defendants used news reporting as a pretext for years to commit acts that harmed China and Hong Kong.
    ABC News, ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The still-unidentified Zodiac Killer, who terrorized the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 1960s, frequently sent threats, demands and ciphers to multiple local papers — namely the San Francisco Chronicle.
    Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Finally, Marilyn is not presented as a cipher to be solved or quarry to be caged.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Completing her crown jewel was no easy feat, with the location itself taking over half a decade to nail down.
    Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 9 Mar. 2026
  • Those viewpoints have merit, and there’s a worthy discussion to be had about Gilgeous-Alexander’s methods, but all that nuance and negativity should fall by the wayside in honor of his remarkable feat.
    Sam Amick, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • When adjusting the calculation for Texas’ median income, the annual cost drops to about $9,351, reflecting differences in earnings between Texas and the national average.
    Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Mar. 2026
  • This reduced the problem to a finite number of calculations — at least in theory.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • But Yee hopes that straight talk and her distinct lack of ornamentation will count for something with California voters.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
  • Now, those advocates count the city’s last major professional sports franchise — whose messy divorce with Oakland helped tank owner John Fisher’s reputation among residents — as an unusual bedfellow.
    Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Under the agreement with Kimley-Horn, the Daxbots have aggregated data on sidewalks at dozens of city buildings and parks.
    Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Mar. 2026
  • Someone is going to aggregate that long tail of gig work, right?
    Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 3 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Number.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/number. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.

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