several

American  

[sev-er-uhl, sev-ruhl] / ˈsɛv ər əl, ˈsɛv rəl /

adjective

1. being more than two but fewer than many in number or kind.

   several ways of doing it.

2. respective; individual.

   They went their several ways.

3. separate; different.

   several occasions.

4. Archaic. single; particular.

   an examination of each several case.

5. Law. binding two or more persons who may be sued separately on a common obligation.

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pronoun

(used with a plural verb)

1. several persons or things.

   He's written ten novels, and several have sold very well.

   Several of my friends are divorced.

several British  

/ ˈsɛvrəl /

determiner

1. 1. more than a few; an indefinite small number

      several people objected

   2. ( as pronoun; functioning as plural )

      several of them know

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adjective

1. (prenominal) various; separate

   the members with their several occupations

2. (prenominal) distinct; different

   three several times

3. law capable of being dealt with separately; not shared Compare joint

Etymology

Origin of several

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin sēparālis, equivalent to Latin sēpar “separate” + -ālis -al ¹

Example Sentences

The New York-based bank, the largest in the country, said Tuesday that it wants to add three million new small business clients—on top of the seven million it works with now—in the next several years.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

The defendants billed Medicare for reimbursement payments for hospice care for patients over several years, federal officials said, but many of those patients were not terminally ill.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

She said it was unusual to find a letter on her desk and that it had unfortunately been opened and handled by several people before reaching her.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

Wisely, the entry gallery takes on doubters of Kahlo’s gifts with a display of several accomplished early paintings.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

We were moving so fast and the deer was moving so fast that within a second or two we were several yards past where it had happened and yet everything seemed suspended in slow motion.

From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen