many a

Idioms

Numerous ones, as in Many a little boy has wanted to become a fireman. This adjective is always used with a singular noun, a usage dating from about 1200. Also see many is the.

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.

Many a golf career has hit buffers with a lucrative shift to a new manufacturer, Rose's included.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

Many a genius has been not all that good at learning in a formal school setting: Blaise Pascal, Leo Tolstoy and Albert Einstein are notable examples.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 11, 2025

Many a glamorous startup imploded after the tech boom went bust, shortly after "Office Space" was released, in 2001 and 2002.

From Salon • Mar. 1, 2024

Many a studio has tried to mimic its multipronged approach to franchise moviemaking.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 16, 2023

Many a slave carried the dream of freedom in his heart because of these words of Jefferson's.

From "Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad" by Ann Petry

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023