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 or an ):

   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. sometimes preceded bya great or a good
   1. a large number of

      many coaches

      many times

   2. ( as pronoun; functioning as plural )

      many are seated already

2. foll bya, an, or another, and a singular noun each of a considerable number of

   many a man

3. preceded byas, too, that, etc
   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 many
   the majority of mankind, esp the common people Compare few

   the many are kept in ignorance while the few prosper

Other Words From

• over·many 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

Like many trans users, Transartist often gets used as a source of information more than anything else.

From The Daily Beast

But he, like many people using dating apps whatever their sexual identity, remains stoutly positive.

From The Daily Beast

Like many Americans—but few Republican presidential candidates—the former Florida governor has evolved on the issue.

From The Daily Beast

In an email exchange a friend said many had repeated this same succinct review but they could never elaborate.

From The Daily Beast

For many years afterward it was a never-ending topic of conversation, and is more or less talked of even to this day.

From The Daily Beast

And she would be wearing some of the jewels with the white dress—just a few, not many, of course.

From Project Gutenberg

Many of them were delicious in the role; one of them was the embodiment of every womanly grace and charm.

From Project Gutenberg

Only in the carnage of the head, the tilt of the chin, was the insolence expressed that had made her many enemies.

From Project Gutenberg

As there are still many varieties of the plant grown in America, so there doubtless was when cultivated by the Indians.

From Project Gutenberg

Babylas raised his pale face; he knew what was coming; it had come so many times before.

From Project Gutenberg