View synonyms for many

many

[ men-ee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

more, most.

constituting or forming a large number; numerous:
many people.
Synonyms: various, sundry, divers, myriad, multitudinous, multifarious
Antonyms: single, few
noting each one of a large number (usually followed by a or an ):
For many a day it rained.

noun

a large or considerable number of persons or things:
A good many of the beggars were blind.
the many, the greater part of humankind.

pronoun

many persons or things:
Many of the beggars were blind. Many were unable to attend.

many

/ ˈmɛnɪ /

determiner

sometimes preceded bya great or a good
1. a large number of
  many coaches
  many times
2. ( as pronoun; functioning as plural )
  many are seated already
foll bya, an, or another, and a singular noun each of a considerable number of
many a man
preceded byas, too, that, etc
1. a great number of
  as many apples as you like
  too many clouds to see
2. ( as pronoun; functioning as plural )
  I have as many as you

noun

the many
the majority of mankind, esp the common people Compare few
the many are kept in ignorance while the few prosper

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Other Words From

over·many adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of many¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English mani, meni, Old English manig, menig; akin to Old Saxon, Old High German manag, menig, Danish mange, Gothic manags

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Word History and Origins

Origin of many¹

Old English manig; related to Old Frisian manich, Middle Dutch menech, Old High German manag

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Idioms and Phrases

as many
good (great) many
in so many words
irons in the fire, too many
so many
too many cooks spoil the broth

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Synonym Study

Many, innumerable, manifold, numerous imply the presence or succession of a large number of units. Many is a popular and common word for this idea: many times. Numerous, a more formal word, refers to a great number or to very many units: letters too numerous to mention. Innumerable denotes a number that is beyond count or, more loosely, that is extremely difficult to count: the innumerable stars in the sky. Manifold implies not only that the number is large but also that there is variety or complexity.

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Example Sentences

So many chances had been squandered by that point in the Trojans’ Big Ten tournament opener.

From Los Angeles Times

But the duties are much broader in scope than last time, when they were phased in gradually and many products were granted exemptions.

From BBC

"But nevertheless, when you are exposed to an export-oriented model, then you are more exposed in a situation when tariffs are going up and there are so many uncertainties, so many unknowns," he added.

From BBC

It came from that concept that there are many single mothers who are widowed or might not have the resources to support themselves.

From Los Angeles Times

Those efforts appealed to the nostalgia of millennials and Gen X moviegoers, many of whom now have children of their own, Robbins said.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Manx shearwater man-year

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