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
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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:
Thoma was one of many private-equity firms that paid sizable multiples for companies at the height of the market in 2021.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
For many, the refusal to acknowledge any kind of pecking order will feel fresh, fun, validating and/or thought-provoking.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
Chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi told staff in a company email that the taxi and delivery firm had expanded quickly but accumulated too many layers and small teams that slowed decision‑making.
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026
More than 100,000 people have been displaced, with many criticising limited transparency and insufficient or slow compensation, according to NGOs.
From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026
Surely the Japanese wouldn’t dare strike when there are so many forces waiting for them.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
MacArthur Park was designated as Historic-Cultural Monument No. 100 more than five decades ago.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
That’s much more than the $26.5 billion, or 0.07% of AUM, that all equity funds took in a year ago, and compares with $2 billion of outflows for U.S. equity funds seen in August 2025.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 2, 2026
In the last several months, the city provided a more specific timeline.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
High-multiple growth stocks often derive much of their valuation from cash flows expected far in the future, rather than earnings today, and elevated interest rates discount future cash flows more steeply.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 2, 2026
It's been 150 years since his accident, yet we are still learning more about him.
From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman
“Artists who illustrate stories that are already written, and most of those stories are myths — they’re not real — but the illustrations make them real.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
But most of these fighters retain a strong sense of loyalty to Budanov, who still exercises influence over the HUR, people familiar with the agency say.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
Harry Shum Jr. of “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Crazy Rich Asians” and, most notably, “Glee,” will return to his dance roots, performing alongside “DWTS” pro Jenna Johnson.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
The group’s most recent arrival, Mr. Hoffman, joined 16 years ago.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
Swimmers are gathered in groups along the length of the pool deck, some of them stretching, most of them chatting and bouncing on their heels with nervous excitement.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
