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 oran ).

   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. 1. a large number of

      many coaches

      many times

   2. ( as pronoun; functioning as plural )

      many are seated already

2. each of a considerable number of

   many a man

3. 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 majority of mankind, esp the common people Compare few

   the many are kept in ignorance while the few prosper

Other Word Forms

• overmany 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

Burnaby was tall—6 feet 4 inches—and many said he was the strongest man in the British Army, capable of carrying a pony under each arm.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

So many of my dad’s stories about his youth were set at Carville that I’d been imagining it for my entire life, but he never said much about his time in the infirmary.

Read more on Salon

Authorities are working with families gathered at the scene of the disaster to try to determine exactly how many people still need to be found.

Read more on BBC

There definitely won't be many goals in this game, but I already know I am going to be wrong about it.

Read more on BBC

The reality is that many people are in this man’s situation — 43 million Americans have federal student-loan debt — and it’s likely that whoever you date next will also have some amount of debt.

Read more on MarketWatch