numerous
Americanadjective
-
very many; being or existing in great quantity.
numerous visits;
numerous fish.
-
consisting of or comprising a great number of units or individuals.
Recent audiences have been more numerous.
adjective
-
being many
-
consisting of many units or parts
a numerous collection
Related Words
See many.
Other Word Forms
- numerosity noun
- numerously adverb
- numerousness noun
- overnumerous adjective
- overnumerously adverb
- overnumerousness noun
- supernumerous adjective
- supernumerously adverb
- supernumerousness noun
- unnumerous adjective
- unnumerously adverb
- unnumerousness noun
Etymology
Origin of numerous
First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin numerōsus “consisting of a great number, numerous,” equivalent to numer(us) number + -ōsus -ous
Explanation
Numerous means very large in quantity. You wouldn’t use numerous to describe how many feet you have (just two), but you could use it to describe the infinite number of shoes in your closet. The adjective numerous is related to the word number — which is no big surprise since it basically means "a large number of something." Use numerous to describe a copious or abundant amount that you can't give a specific number for. Numerous fans probably come out for the all-star game, for example. And numerous players wish they made the all-star team.
Vocabulary lists containing numerous
myPerspectives 8.1
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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.
Given this risky undertaking and the numerous delays -- particularly those experienced by SpaceX that was supposed to have its lander ready first -- pressure has mounted in recent months.
From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026
At 19 she moved to Glasgow where she had numerous jobs in shops, restaurants and bars.
From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026
Lawyers for police officers reported numerous calls from clients worried their personnel and medical records were exposed, raising the prospect of more costly litigation.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026
It will test numerous types of technology on the lunar surface, from vehicles and drones to small nuclear reactors, before moving on to building infrastructure for a moon base and conducting semi-regular manned missions.
From Salon • Apr. 9, 2026
As he returned to the States, Farmer considered his year in Haiti, where he had met a beautiful and fascinating young woman and learned numerous lessons about poverty, culture, and religion, a success.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
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.
