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:
The defending champions have been tipped by many to retain the title they won last season for the first time in 22 years.
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026
For many, Huang, 63, has become the voice of reason standing up against the scary rhetoric coming from the likes of Anthropic.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026
Reselling became a side hustle for many and a full-time job for some.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
Given how many times we’ve heard that one before, I’m just not convinced.
From Salon ● Sep. 19, 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
Your morning catch-up: SoCal remembers two news veterans, the driver accused in a fatal Metro bus crash had multiple drug arrests and more big stories.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
He has regularly criticised his press coverage since he first entered national politics more than a decade ago, but he said on Friday there was no specific incident that prompted his announcement.
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026
She said the group is readying its strategy to get more funding for the program next year.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
Boston College psychology professor Peter Gray’s new book argues that change in curriculum and achievement culture has more to do with teen anxiety than social media.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
“You can’t see it on this map,” Caesar says, touching the dirt beyond our map, “but there’s more and more land west of Texas and Oklahoma. There’s a place called California. I’ve heard it’s beautiful.”
From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Ruffy, from Brazil, has two consecutive victories in his most recent bouts, though he has won nine of his last 10 fights.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
The victory by eight wickets was concluded with 62 balls to spare - the most for England in a home T20 international.
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026
Anthropic Chief Executive Dario Amodei has been among the most prominent voices in AI industry leadership calling for a slowdown in development.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026
Who is doing the most good when, ostensibly, everyone is trying to do the right thing, acting within their rights as parents or arms of the government?
From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2026
Such ingratitude! he thought—and from the very people he had helped the most.
From "Adventures of Don Quixote" by Argentina Palacios
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.
