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

"After duplication, the majority of genes are still in pairs; however, they show different expression patterns, and many have functionally diverged to regulate different traits," Ma said.

From Science Daily

While many brokers deleted personal identifiers, some provided names and addresses of individuals seeking mental health assistance, according to the report.

From Los Angeles Times

Sustainable sugar production should factor into these global talks given the many environmental problems and opportunities from changing the way we grow and consume sugar.

From Salon

In practicality, many importers incur these costs themselves and then pass some of these costs onto consumers so that these businesses can maintain healthy profit margins.

From Salon

Having long promised to gut the federal workforce and even eliminate some departments, Trump has foregone many of the norms associated with peacefully taking office.

From Salon