innumerable

[ ih-noo-mer-uh-buhl, ih-nyoo- ]

adjective

1. very numerous.
2. incapable of being counted; countless.

   Synonyms: numberless

innumerable

/ ɪˈnjuːmrəbəl; ɪˈnjuːmərəbəl /

adjective

1. so many as to be uncountable; extremely numerous

Derived Forms

• inˈnumerably, adverb
• inˌnumeraˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• in·num·er·a·bil·ness noun
• in·nu·mer·a·bil·i·ty [ih-noo-mer-, uh, -, bil, -i-tee, ih-nyoo-] noun
• in·nu·mer·a·bly adverb
• qua·si-in·nu·mer·a·ble adjective
• qua·si-in·nu·mer·a·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of innumerable¹

1300–50; Middle English, from Latin innumerābilis “countless, innumerable,” equivalent to in- in- ³ + numerābilis “that can be counted or numbered” ( numerā(re) “to count” + -bilis -ble )

Synonym Study

See many.

Example Sentences

His candidacy again surmounted innumerable obstacles and defied much of a political establishment that views him with utter disdain.

From Los Angeles Times

That band, which Monash University planetary scientist Andrew Tomkins and colleagues are arguing existed in a new paper, may have been the result of an asteroid’s passing just close enough to our prehistoric planet to break up into innumerable pieces.

From Slate

At the other end of the spectrum, glasses can be a form of self-expression; one can try out innumerable choices of color, size, and style.

From Slate

Innumerable bugs, each one less than half the size of a housefly, but primed to chaw their way through a $16-billion California industry exactly like you did to that bag of chips.

From Los Angeles Times

Johnny Cash gave Kristofferson a No. 1 country hit — and opened innumerable doors for him in Nashville — with his rendition of this searching drunkard’s lament, which Cash recorded live at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium during a taping of his popular ABC variety show.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• countless
• myriad
• numerous
• untold