several

[ sev-er-uhl, sev-ruhl ]

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.

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

/ 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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of several¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of several¹

C15: via Anglo-French from Medieval Latin sēparālis, from Latin sēpār, from sēparāre to separate

Example Sentences

A veteran of the Iraq war, he has limited experience of government but has been a vocal supporter of Trump's for several years.

From BBC

A police car was parked outside the school for several days.

From BBC

On the journey, Mrs Burton described him becoming "more and more agitated" and was sending several text messages.

From BBC

Its emergence coincided with several major events that have fueled a wider reckoning of South Korea’s gender inequalities in the workplace and violence against women.

From Los Angeles Times

In one passage, a man drives along L.A.’s concrete arteries, and several women on the street sing “freeway” in mystical harmonies.

From Los Angeles Times