Showing results for "number"

• comparative of numb.

number

American  

[nuhm-ber] / ˈnʌm bər /

noun

numbers plural

1. a numeral or group of numerals.

   Synonyms:

   figure, digit

2. the sum, total, count, or aggregate of a collection of people or things.

   The number of children experiencing homelessness in the city has risen alarmingly.

3. a word or symbol, or a combination of words or symbols, used in counting or in noting a total.

4. the particular numeral assigned to an object or, sometimes, a person, indicating its place in a series.

   house number;

   license number;

   jersey number.

5. one of a series of things or people distinguished by or marked with numerals.

   Number 5's order is ready to be delivered.

6. a code of numerals, letters, or a combination of these assigned to a particular telephone.

   Did you call the right number?

7. quantity as composed of units or individuals.

   The governor put forth a plan to increase the number of eligible voters.

8. the count or quantity of a collection or company.

   Their number was more than 20,000.

9. numbers,

   1. a considerable amount or quantity; many.

      Numbers flocked to the city to see the parade.

   2. metrical feet; verse.

   3. musical periods, measures, or groups of notes.

   4. numbers pool.

   5. Informal. the figures representing the actual cost, expense, profit, etc..

      We won't make a decision until we see the numbers.

   6. Obsolete. arithmetic.

10. numerical strength or superiority; complement.

    The garrison is not up to its full number.

11. a single or distinct performance within a show, as a song or dance.

    The comic routine followed the dance number.

12. a single part of a program made up of a group of similar parts.

    For her third number she played a nocturne.

13. any of a collection of poems or songs.

14. a tune or arrangement for singing or dancing.

15. a distinct part of an extended musical work or one in a sequence of compositions.

16. conformity in music or verse to regular beat or measure; rhythm.

17. a single part of a book published in a series of parts.

18. a single issue of a periodical.

    The bookcase contained several numbers of a popular magazine.

    Synonyms:

    edition

19. Grammar. a category of noun, verb, or adjective inflection found in many languages, such as English, Latin, and Arabic, used to indicate whether a word has one or more than one referent. There may be a two-way distinction in number, as between singular and plural, three-way, as between singular, dual, and plural, or a more complex system.

20. Informal. a person; individual.

    Why don't you go talk to the attractive number standing at the bar?

21. Informal. an article of merchandise, especially of clothing, offered for sale.

    Put those leather numbers in the display window.

22. mathematics regarded as a system, a basic concept, and a mode of thought.

    Number is the basis of science.

---

verb (used with object)

numbers, present (3rd person singular) numbered, past participle, past numbering present participle

1. to mark with or distinguish by numeral.

   Number each of the definitions.

2. to ascertain the number of; count.

3. to total or amount to.

   The manuscript already numbers 425 pages.

4. to consider or include in a collection or group.

   I number myself among his friends.

5. to count over one by one.

   to number one's blessings.

6. to mention individually or one by one; list; enumerate.

   They numbered the highlights of their trip at length.

7. to set or fix the number of; limit in number; make few in number.

   The sick old man's days are numbered.

8. to live or have lived (a number of years).

9. to apportion or divide by counting (used withoff ).

   The players were numbered off into two teams.

verb (used without object)

numbers, present (3rd person singular) numbered, past participle, past numbering present participle

1. to make a total; reach an amount.

   Casualties numbered in the thousands.

2. to be numbered or included (usually followed by among orwith ).

   Several eminent scientists number among his friends.

3. to count.

idioms

1. get / have someone's number, to become informed about someone's real motives, character, intentions, etc..

   He was only interested in her fortune, but she got his number fast.

2. do a number on,

   1. to undermine, defeat, humiliate, or criticize thoroughly.

      The committee really did a number on the mayor's proposal.

   2. to discuss or discourse about, especially in an entertaining way.

      She could do a number on anything from dentistry to the Bomb.

3. one's number is / was / will be up,

   1. one is (was, will be) in serious trouble.

   2. one is (was, will be) on the point of death.

      Convinced that her number was up anyway, she refused to see doctors.

4. without number, of unknown or countless number; vast.

   The night sky was filled with stars without number.

5. by the numbers,

   1. according to standard procedure, rules, customs, etc.; orthodoxly; by the book.

      We're going to run things here by the numbers.

   2. together or in unison to a called-out count.

      The class involves calisthenics by the numbers.

6. have someone's number on it, to be thought of as the instrument of fate in the death of a person.

   That bullet had his number on it.

7. do one's number,

   1. to give a performance; perform.

      It's time for you to get on stage and do your number.

   2. Slang. to behave in a predictable or customary manner.

      Whenever I call, he does his number about being too busy to talk.

8. any number of, an imprecisely reckoned but large or diverse collection.

   The island is home to any number of artistic residents from around the world.

9. a number of, an imprecisely reckoned collection of more than a few; several.

   In a number of states, like Ohio, Iowa, and North Carolina, early voting has already begun.

number British  

/ ˈnʌmbə /

noun

1. a concept of quantity that is or can be derived from a single unit, the sum of a collection of units, or zero. Every number occupies a unique position in a sequence, enabling it to be used in counting. It can be assigned to one or more sets that can be arranged in a hierarchical classification: every number is a complex number ; a complex number is either an imaginary number or a real number , and the latter can be a rational number or an irrational number ; a rational number is either an integer or a fraction , while an irrational number can be a transcendental number or an algebraic number See complex number imaginary number real number rational number irrational number integer fraction transcendental number algebraic number See also cardinal number ordinal number

2. the symbol used to represent a number; numeral

3. a numeral or string of numerals used to identify a person or thing, esp in numerical order

   a telephone number

4. the person or thing so identified or designated

   she was number seven in the race

5. the sum or quantity of equal or similar units or things

   a large number of people

6. one of a series, as of a magazine or periodical; issue

7. 1. a self-contained piece of pop or jazz music

   2. a self-contained part of an opera or other musical score, esp one for the stage

8. a group or band of people, esp an exclusive group

   he was not one of our number

9. slang a person, esp a woman

   who's that nice little number?

10. informal an admired article, esp an item of clothing for a woman

    that little number is by Dior

11. slang a cannabis cigarette

    roll another number

12. a grammatical category for the variation in form of nouns, pronouns, and any words agreeing with them, depending on how many persons or things are referred to, esp as singular or plural in number and in some languages dual or trial

13. several or many

14. military (of a drill procedure, etc) performed step by step, each move being made on the call of a number

15. slang to manipulate or trick someone

16. informal to discover someone's true character or intentions

17. in large numbers; numerously

18. informal one is finished; one is ruined or about to die

19. of too great a quantity to be counted; innumerable

---

verb

1. to assign a number to

2. to add up to; total

3. (also intr) to list (items) one by one; enumerate

4. (also intr) to put or be put into a group, category, etc

   they were numbered among the worst hit

5. to limit the number of

   his days were numbered

number Scientific  

/ nŭm′bər /

1. A member of the set of positive integers. Each number is one of a series of unique symbols, each of which has exactly one predecessor except the first symbol in the series (1), and none of which are the predecessor of more than one number.

2. A member of any of the further sets of mathematical objects defined in terms of such numbers, such as negative integers, real numbers, and complex numbers.

---

number Cultural  

1. The grammatical category that classifies a noun, pronoun, or verb as singular or plural. Woman, it, and is are singular; women, they, and are are plural.

---

number More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing number

• a number of
• any number of
• back number
• by the numbers
• crunch numbers
• days are numbered
• do a job (number) on
• get (have) someone's number
• hot number
• in round numbers
• look out for (number one)
• opposite number
• safety in numbers

---

Grammar

As a collective noun, number, when preceded by a, is most often treated as a plural: A number of legislators have voiced their dissent. When preceded by the, it is usually used as a singular: The number of legislators present was small. See also collective noun.

Commonly Confused

See amount,

Synonym Usage

Number, sum both imply the total of two or more units. Number applies to the result of a count or estimate in which the units are considered as individuals; it is used of groups of persons or things: to have a number of items on the agenda. Sum applies to the result of addition, in which only the total is considered: a large sum of money.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• numberer
  noun
• subnumber
  noun
• misnumber
  verb
• denumber
  verb (used with object)
• prenumber
  verb (used with object)
• renumber
  verb (used with object)
• numberable
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• numbers
  plural

Participles

• numbering
  present
• numbered
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• number
  simple
• numbers
  simple
• have numbered
  perfect
• has numbered
  perfect
• am numbering
  progressive
• are numbering
  progressive
• is numbering
  progressive
• have been numbering
  perfect progressive
• has been numbering
  perfect progressive

Past

• numbered
  simple
• had numbered
  perfect
• was numbering
  progressive
• were numbering
  progressive
• had been numbering
  perfect progressive

Future

• will number
  simple
• will have numbered
  perfect
• will be numbering
  progressive
• will have been numbering
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of number

First recorded in 1250–1300; 1940–45 number for def. 20; Middle English noun nombre, nomber, number, from Old French nombre, numbre, from Latin numerus; verb derivative of the noun

Explanation

When you consider any amount or measurement, you use a number, like 1, 2, 3, 75, or 998,837,211. This math-y word has many uses. Playing the numbers is an illegal form of gambling, and number crunchers are accountants. If you're looking out for number one, you're thinking of yourself. When you number something, you're counting it. A number is a song in a musical or concert. If someone "has your number," they know you well. Getting someone's number also means getting their phone number. If your days are numbered, it means you know you're going to die soon.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

number numbers numbered numbering

The CEO has consulted with a number of people, internally and externally, about how he should organize its news division.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026

The rising number of uninsured patients is starting to hit hospitals.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

England's Charley Hull went round in even par to remain on two under par, while world number one Nelly Korda shot 68 to recover from an opening-round two-over-par 73.

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

That’s more than double the number of badges counted in 2022.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 31, 2026

Earlier today, I asked Zara what she thought, and she told me that no guy would have gone to the trouble of tracking down my number to reschedule a date only to not show up.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Douglas nods in agreement before adding: "We want the shows, we want the numbers, we want the awards, we want the love and we want the success."

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

The rulings will apply to jurisdictions that stretch across much of the southern border, affecting states where large numbers of immigrant detainees are held in federal custody.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026

While larger populations saw more deaths, their numbers overall were more stable but smaller groups could be "devastated" by the loss of "just one or two".

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

While the automaker doesn’t officially break out exact sales numbers by individual model in its financial reports, many fans of the brand and enthusiasts had been waiting for the R2’s debut in June.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026

Each of us has a paper posted at our workstation containing the numbers for these emergency services so that when we’re asked to patch someone through, we don’t have to think twice.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

There he became involved with the Footlights Club, which numbered Graeme Garden and Tim Brooke-Taylor among its members.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

The details of the bodies are documented and the graves numbered so that family members can return and reclaim them.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026

He will begin his visit at the cemetery, where unidentified migrants are buried in numbered graves.

From Barron's ● Jul. 4, 2026

On the NYSE, new 52-week highs outpaced new lows and numbered more than 100 again, so this buy signal is still in place — narrowly averting being stopped out.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 26, 2026

Amélie peeked and discovered that the pages are numbered, so she’s put them all in order for me, but it’s in English and she couldn’t read it.

From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein

The group, currently numbering 12, envisages growing food to sell, holding workshops and retreats - and even setting up a "granny agency" to look after children.

From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2026

Despite numbering only about 2,000 individuals, the Bristol Bay belugas showed high levels of genetic diversity and relatively little evidence of inbreeding.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 4, 2026

Cepeda was central to Petro’s signature plan, Total Peace, designed to de-escalate conflict with the country’s hybrid groups that are part insurgencies, part drug gangs, each numbering thousands of fighters.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 25, 2026

Prior to the pandemic, Chinese tourists made up the bulk of foreign visitors to North Korea, numbering roughly 350,000 in 2019 and providing a huge revenue stream for Pyongyang, according to specialist website NK News.

From Barron's ● Apr. 9, 2026

It opened clear on my comprehension that Helen Burns was numbering her last days in this world, and that she was going to be taken to the region of spirits, if such region there were.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

Related Words

• amount
• collection
• company
• estimate
• lot
• many
• product
• quantity
• sum
• total
• volume