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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
More Americans are swimming in debt A record number of consumers entered debt consolidation in the first half of 2026, with an average balance of about $40,000, according to one of the nation’s largest debt-management nonprofits. Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026 Bringing in overseas talent into New Zealand to boost local artists numbers has been fundamental to our approach ever since. Geoffrey Bunting, IndieWire, 4 Aug. 2026
Verb
The design-forward Saint Laurent Rive Droite x Fieldbar Gin Trunk features a hardcase cooler box with a custom, individually numbered Saint Laurent plaque, the company shared with Travel + Leisure. Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 27 July 2026 In 1880, the population numbered 1,657, according to Breckenridge History, the town’s historical non-profit. John Meyer, Denver Post, 26 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for number
Recent Examples of Synonyms for number
Noun
  • The recent rise is still well short of the blistering price inflation of the pandemic era, which saw double-digit increases throughout 2021 and parts of 2020 and 2022.
    Bloomberg, Mercury News, 4 Aug. 2026
  • You’re prompted to complete a connection or verification step, which is where the six-digit code comes in.
    Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • That figure has barely moved in three years of consecutive DDI surveys, across periods when the composition of work itself has changed significantly.
    Cindy Rodriguez Constable, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • In some ways, with the current composition of the roster, Niko stands as somewhat of a swing player.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 1 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Burnham was mayor of Greater Manchester before vaulting back into national politics, and one of his first acts was to set up a branch office in the city.
    ABC News, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • In October 2025, Morris pleaded guilty to five counts of lewd and indecent acts with a child and was sentenced to six months in the Osage County, Oklahoma, jail.
    Giles Hudson, CBS News, 1 Aug. 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
  • In short, picking a singular most beautiful location is a near impossible feat.
    Kristine Hansen, Architectural Digest, 3 Aug. 2026
  • On Sunday, Universal crossed the $4 billion mark for the 2026 box office, becoming the first studio this year to achieve the feat after Disney was the first to reach $3 billion.
    Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 2 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Quantum results need proof Researchers have traditionally used a technique called random circuit sampling to test whether quantum computers can perform calculations beyond the practical reach of classical machines.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 30 July 2026
  • These issues are typically handled by performing simplified calculations using fewer qubits and verifying the results on classical hardware.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 30 July 2026
Verb
  • Sending him, along with pitching prospect Mason McGwire, to the Los Angeles Angels for reliever Ryan Zeferjahn counts as further evidence that the Cubs don’t think Ballesteros is a catcher going forward.
    Eno Sarris, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • But the administration decided that being homeless isn't a medical condition and can't count as an automatic out from having to meet the new requirements.
    Katheryn Houghton, NPR, 4 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • In total, the government now owes the equivalent of $113,000 per person, according to USAFacts, a nonprofit civic initiative cofounded by former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer which aggregates and analyzes government data.
    Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 29 July 2026
  • On fraud, aggregating transaction data across institutions means that a suspicious destination account flagged by one bank can protect customers at every other bank in the network.
    Peter High, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Number.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/number. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on number

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!