multitude

American  

[muhl-ti-tood, -tyood] / ˈmʌl tɪˌtud, -ˌtyud /

noun

1. a great number; host.

   a multitude of friends.

2. a great number of people gathered together; crowd; throng.

   Synonyms:

   mass

3. the state or character of being many; numerousness.

4. the multitude, the common people; the masses.

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multitude British  

/ ˈmʌltɪˌtjuːd /

noun

1. a large gathering of people

2. the common people

3. a large number

4. the state or quality of being numerous

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Related Words

See crowd ¹.

Etymology

Origin of multitude

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English word from Latin word multitūdō. See multi-, -tude

Example Sentences

“Wuthering Heights” is a reminder of just how effective and everlasting a novel can be; of the places it can take us and the multitude of emotions it can make us feel.

From Salon

In the distance he heard moorhens cluck and weaverbirds chirp in their frenetic multitudes.

From Literature

Perhaps because the multitudes derive pleasure from observing wealthy people getting dragged through the mud.

From The Wall Street Journal

Christopher felt tears run down his face as the creatures, ranged in their rows and multitudes, let out a great shout, each in their own language.

From Literature

For generations, pop culture has been a unifying force for Americans amid our multitude of differences.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• horde
• legion
• myriad
• slew
• throng