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
Synonym Usage
See many.
Other Word Forms
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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Much Ado: Synonyms for "Many"
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An Ember in the Ashes
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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.
"Their elongated snouts, numerous teeth and long, flexible necks suggest adaptations for fishing, similar to modern herons," Dr. Motta explains.
From Science Daily • May 29, 2026
According to data from Morningstar, ETFs from Alger and KraneShares already have stakes in Anthropic, while numerous funds from Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest own OpenAI.
From Barron's • May 26, 2026
Reaction to the prospect of her departure enforced Shaw's belief that City was where she wanted to continue her career, having called the club her "home" in numerous interviews.
From BBC • May 25, 2026
“We follow all standard safety protocols and processes and are regularly audited by numerous state and federal agencies.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026
By 9:47 that morning, Arnold had received numerous calls about me.
From "Lawn Boy Returns" by Gary Paulsen
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.
