many

[men-ee]

adjective

more, most 

1. constituting or forming a large number; numerous.

   many people.

   Synonyms: various, sundry, divers, myriad, multitudinous, multifarious
   Antonyms: single, few

2. noting each one of a large number (usually followed by a oran ).

   For many a day it rained.

noun

1. a large or considerable number of persons or things.

   A good many of the beggars were blind.

2. the many, the greater part of humankind.

pronoun

1. many persons or things.

   Many of the beggars were blind. Many were unable to attend.

many

/ ˈmɛnɪ /

determiner

1. 1. a large number of

      many coaches

      many times

   2. ( as pronoun; functioning as plural )

      many are seated already

2. each of a considerable number of

   many a man

3. 1. a great number of

      as many apples as you like

      too many clouds to see

   2. ( as pronoun; functioning as plural )

      I have as many as you

noun

1. the majority of mankind, esp the common people Compare few

   the many are kept in ignorance while the few prosper

Other Word Forms

• overmany adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of many¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English mani, meni, Old English manig, menig; akin to Old Saxon, Old High German manag, menig, Danish mange, Gothic manags

Word History and Origins

Origin of many¹

Old English manig; related to Old Frisian manich, Middle Dutch menech, Old High German manag

Idioms and Phrases

• as many
• good (great) many
• in so many words
• irons in the fire, too many
• so many
• too many cooks spoil the broth

Synonym Study

Many, innumerable, manifold, numerous imply the presence or succession of a large number of units. Many is a popular and common word for this idea: many times. Numerous, a more formal word, refers to a great number or to very many units: letters too numerous to mention. Innumerable denotes a number that is beyond count or, more loosely, that is extremely difficult to count: the innumerable stars in the sky. Manifold implies not only that the number is large but also that there is variety or complexity.

Example Sentences

In the 1990s, many companies stopped insuring against earthquakes, instead requiring homeowners to buy a separate earthquake policy.

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So many disasters could have been avoided if people had listened to the signs.

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Per-worker productivity at his facility has soared, with individual workers producing as much as four times as many pieces per day as they could before.

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Hamas officials have said in recent interviews that retrieving bodies of dead hostages will take time, as many are in collapsed or bombed-out tunnels or under the rubble.

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Experts say this will cause premiums to skyrocket and force many to go without health care.

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