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 relationship among those numbers tells us whether workers are finding jobs or simply disappearing from the denominator. Katica Roy, Fortune, 14 July 2026 These numbers don’t imply that transport by police vehicle instead of an ambulance necessarily saved more lives. Cal Chengqi Fang, The Conversation, 14 July 2026
Verb
The first-generation Amazon Leo constellation will eventually number 3,232 satellites. Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 7 July 2026 Incident types are numbered 1-5 — a type 1 incident is a large, complex wildfire affecting people and critical infrastructure, a type 5 incident is a small wildfire with few personnel involved. Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for number
Recent Examples of Synonyms for number
Noun
  • Looking for a way to cool down as the Sacramento region’s temperatures head toward the triple digits this week?
    Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado July 14, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026
  • Temperatures approaching triple digits in Southern California are set to combine with high humidity and rain chances, making for an unusually muggy week, according to meteorologists.
    Austin Turner, CBS News, 13 July 2026
Noun
  • As those programs mature over the next decade, both the size and the composition of this list are likely to shift, and the gap between the biggest fleets and the most capable ones could narrow considerably.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 11 July 2026
  • Listening to his composition, I am struck by its beauty, craftsmanship, and the unmistakable sense of wonder that animates it.
    Pat Saperstein, Variety, 10 July 2026
Noun
  • Zizou stuck to his plan to retire after that World Cup, so the headbutt was his final act as a player.
    Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 11 July 2026
  • The act has become so popular that hundreds of Norwegian fans rowed in Miami Beach on Friday in preparation for Saturday’s match.
    Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 11 July 2026
Noun
  • But in my view, our relationships to animals, whose lives are untouched by the existential woes and artifices of personhood, are the richest and most evident ciphers for our own often inscrutable psyches.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 June 2026
  • Consider a dashboard that shows applications, including keys and libraries; network traffic protocols and ciphers; hardware, such as HSMs and TPMs; and third-party dependencies, including cryptographic or software bills of materials.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Noun
  • The logistics of bringing such a high caliber of theater on the road are a true feat.
    Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026
  • The math world just got a new genius—a prodigy who announced himself by affixing his name to his signature feat of numerical prowess.
    Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 13 July 2026
Noun
  • The calculation includes both parent and student assets, such as money in a savings or investment account, as well as income, including IRA distributions.
    Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 9 July 2026
  • Part of the calculation will hinge on the progress of SpaceX’s competitors, such as Blue Origin.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 9 July 2026
Verb
  • Zachary Perry, parliamentarian for NPU-V counts votes to recommend against a City of Atlanta change that would allow a data center to be built in Adair Park on Monday, April 13, 2026.
    Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 15 July 2026
  • The main studio is Room 1, and all the contestants start there, competing to accurately count the grains in a bag of rice.
    Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 14 July 2026
Verb
  • The Romans used a technique called hot mixing, in which quicklime was added directly to volcanic ash, water, sand, and aggregate.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 July 2026
  • Similarly, with the European Union’s researcher data access, all of this data can only be accessed aggregated and not from a perspective of a single user.
    Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 8 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Number.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/number. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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