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.
The smaller boats are more numerous and harder to spot on satellite than larger conventional vessels, Des Roches said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026
In New Jersey -- the most densely populated state in the country -- numerous bills to regulate data centers are under consideration.
From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026
The Dolby audience repeatedly cheered as Jackson, Smith and Ladd shared backstage stories about the series, one of numerous TV hits developed and produced by Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026
It comes after the park experienced extensive dust issues during numerous festival shows last summer which organisers said was caused by the drought.
From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026
I thought the media requests prior to making the Olympic team were numerous, but this was a whole new level of attention.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
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.
