many
Americanadjective
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constituting or forming a large number; numerous.
many people.
- Synonyms:
- various, sundry, divers, myriad, multitudinous, multifarious
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noting each one of a large number (usually followed by a oran ).
For many a day it rained.
noun
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a large or considerable number of persons or things.
A good many of the beggars were blind.
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the many, the greater part of humankind.
pronoun
determiner
-
-
a large number of
many coaches
many times
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( as pronoun; functioning as plural )
many are seated already
-
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each of a considerable number of
many a man
-
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a great number of
as many apples as you like
too many clouds to see
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( as pronoun; functioning as plural )
I have as many as you
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noun
Synonym Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of many
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
Explanation
If you have a great number of refrigerator magnets, you have many of them. Many means "a lot of items." Many can be traced back to the Welsh word mynych meaning "frequent." To get many of something, you do something frequently, or often, like having many miles on a car because you often drive it long distances. If you ask, "How many people will be at the party?" you want to know the number of guests who are expected. If the answer is "many," you know there will be numerous people, though you haven't been given an exact figure.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
This misbegotten “romanticization of lunacy in popular culture,” Mr. deBoer says, is “one of many aggravations I have nursed for years.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026
In France, the attackers targeted the fridge regulation system made by the Danish firm Danfoss, which is used by many shops.
From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026
“There have been many ‘false dawns’ over the past eight months,” he said.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026
But as other states and countries offer more competitive incentives, many major productions have continued to leave California.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026
“Like music, a movement relies heavily on time. These women, like many others, knew the time had come.”
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
This marked Palantir’s first quarter with more than $2 billion in revenue.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026
Glenn grew up in New Concord, Ohio, a town of little more than 1,000 people at the time, where Steele doubled as principal and civics instructor at the local high school.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026
Conventional wisdom suggests a low P/E ratio can make a stock more attractive.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026
But seen today, in a transfer that glistens, it is more interesting than that: It’s Lean’s daring attempt to make a love triangle appear as monumental as it would have seemed to its benighted participants.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026
He lies down on his own bed so Dr. Harlow can shave his head and examine the wound more closely.
From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman
The list of the sell side’s top 10 most favored names was dominated by stocks in the information technology and communication services sectors.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026
But although some patients, once medicated, could live rewarding and independent lives, funding for reliable community treatment never materialized, leaving many of the most seriously ill unsupported.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026
One of the most notable examples was the merger of JDS Fitel and Uniphase in 1999, positioned as the creation of a fiber-optics empire.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026
The company revived several dances to enchanting effect for its most recent Lincoln Center season, including works by Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine and Kyle Abraham.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026
The derby is Dad and Jonah’s most favorite thing at the fair.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
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