1
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
4
as in cipher
a person of no importance or influence
doesn't want to go to some mammoth state university where she would be just a number
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
1
2
as in to aggregate
to have a total of
the full-time staff numbers 30 people
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to include
to have as part of a whole
is numbered among the great minds of our times
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
In short, your portfolio may be too concentrated among a small number of investments.
—Doug Ashburn, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Katie Langford, Denver Post, 26 Mar. 2026
Five of them will be white balls numbered 1 to 69.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for number
Noun
The department made its determination using tax numbers from 2022, which is the most recent year for which complete data is available, the letter states.
—Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
In short, your portfolio may be too concentrated among a small number of investments.
—Doug Ashburn, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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.
—Katie Langford, Denver Post, 26 Mar. 2026
Five of them will be white balls numbered 1 to 69.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for number
Recent Examples of Synonyms for number
Noun
-
The information the department is requesting would include information such as full name, date of birth, address, driver’s license and the last four digits of a Social Security numbers.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, believes one more month of triple-digit oil prices could be enough.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In one casually stunning composition, Ion looms in the foreground over the rooftops of Cluj in the background.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Further proof emerged in studies of volcanic rocks found at Katmai called andesites and dacites, which had the same chemical composition as those blasted out of Novarupta.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Alongside the conference programme, the SXSW London Music Festival will showcase more than 200 artists, spanning emerging voices and established acts such as Tiwa Savage, ODUMODUBLVCK, Rachel Chinouriri and Circa Waves.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The amphitheater, where bandleader Cesar LaMonaca led an orchestra under the moonlight for nearly 50 years, was gone, eventually replaced and moved a bit north and booked with acts of the day.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
As zonky cross-generational ciphers go, the group’s debut, Strictly 4 the Scythe, is no Hypnotize Camp Posse, the amalgam of Three 6 Mafia and a grip of artists signed to their Hypnotize Minds label in the early 2000s.—
Dylan Green,
Pitchfork,
12 Mar. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
No mean feat, considering the brand’s first 24 hotels are set in remote, leafy locations that feel worlds away from real life.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Living in a seemingly perpetual athletic prime between the two generations, Caldwell would likely climb to the Moon if such a feat were possible.—
Namir Khaliq,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In most states, your credit score can be part of the calculation for your insurance premium.—
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Of course, a teenager doesn’t make those calculations or consider the cost behind her searches.—
Krys Fluker,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
On their first night in Guangzhou, while Joost was in the private shower attached to their room, Martha pulled her money pouch from the recesses of her pack and counted her traveller’s checks.—
Cassandra Neyenesch,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
-
By most accounts, the conservative Supreme Court majority this week appeared skeptical of a Mississippi law that allows ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if they are received within five business days after the election.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
At their best, then, prediction markets aggregate collective intelligence to weigh the likelihood of future events.—
Parker Bach,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2026
-
RealClearPolitics, which aggregates numerous polls, didn’t have a figure for Mahan, likely due to his late entry into the race earlier this year.—
Paris Barraza,
USA Today,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Number.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/number. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
