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:
That statement said the King was "mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgement and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss".
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
Catcher Will Smith hit his second home run in as many nights, launching the second pitch of the inning into the left-field stands.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2026
So far, these tiny enterprises haven’t become a major economic force—they face fierce competition across China’s high-tech sectors and many aren’t making much money.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026
In particular, the moon's irregular appearance resembles what scientists call a rubble pile asteroid, an object made from many pieces of rock held together relatively loosely by gravity.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026
Unfortunately, many people are diagnosed too late to receive effective and available treatment.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
After posting two interceptions to zero passing touchdowns through the first two weeks of the season, Iamaleava completed 19 of 31 passes for 276 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 55 more.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2026
Cambridge University player Alex said it has been "cool" to learn the stories of Kansas and ASU and he would probably go to more college games in future "if they're teams we can rally behind".
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
Omosigho led the team in tackles with 12, but more importantly, he had two sacks and two forced fumbles.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2026
"I see more and more local communities getting together to protect them."
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
Amazingly, I know, too, that he believes loyalty to a friend is more important than land.
From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Penny Walters works for Feeding Britain which supports some of the most deprived families in the North East.
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
IBD can behave very differently from one person to another, making it difficult to know who will respond to a particular treatment or who is most likely to relapse.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026
Queen went on to become one of the most successful rock bands in history, selling more than 300 million records worldwide.
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026
It contains what is considered the most complex metallocofactor known in biology.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026
Kathy spent most of Saturday in her room.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
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.
