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.
But numerous states pursued the case, and they could still ask for the company to divest Ticketmaster.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026
Like his partner in duplicity, Witkoff’s conflicts are numerous.
From Salon • Apr. 16, 2026
And numerous investigations by the consumer association Which? have found dangerous products listed on online marketplaces.
From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026
The local chapter of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union said the new deal includes numerous improvements and no concessions.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026
She was a beast on beam, vault, and floor, and she’d brought home numerous medals in all three.
From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles
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.
