many

[ men-ee ]

adjective

, more, most.

1. constituting or forming a large number; numerous:

   many people.

   Synonyms: various, sundry, divers, myriad, multitudinous, multifarious

   Antonyms: single, few

2. noting each one of a large number (usually followed by a or an ):

   For many a day it rained.

noun

1. a large or considerable number of persons or things:

   A good many of the beggars were blind.

2. the many, the greater part of humankind.

pronoun

1. many persons or things:

   Many of the beggars were blind. Many were unable to attend.

many

/ ˈmɛnɪ /

determiner

1. 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

2. foll bya, an, or another, and a singular noun each of a considerable number of

   many a man

3. 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

1. the many
   the majority of mankind, esp the common people Compare few

   the many are kept in ignorance while the few prosper

Other Words From

• over·many adjective

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of many¹

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

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

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.

Example Sentences

One reason the subject is so sensitive is that accounts of some of Trump’s unorthodox first-term dealings with serving and retired military officials are fresh in the minds of many, aired in the final weeks of the presidential campaign.

From Los Angeles Times

But Trump’s transition moves on defense are seen by many observers as likely to be constrained by factors including the ethics adhered to by the military’s officer class, combined with the sheer weight of Pentagon bureaucracy.

From Los Angeles Times

“And that means many people will still be forced to travel to places like DC for abortion care.”

From Salon

Her deeply skeptical views of most U.S. foreign policy, including support for Ukraine, sympathy for dictators like Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad in Syria and embrace of various conspiracy theories has earned her many critics who say that she would not pass muster in a Senate confirmation process.

From Salon

Gabbard, like many other "America First" proponents, exempts Israel from her quasi-isolationist critiques, once describing pro-Palestine protesters as puppets of a "radical Islamist organization" and serving as a keynote speaker at a conference hosted by Christians United for Israel.

From Salon