greatest number

Meanings

1. 1nounsingular

   The largest amount or quantity of people or things in a group.

   Grammar: Used with 'the' and often followed by 'of': 'the greatest number of students'.

   Patterns

   • the greatest number of something
   • the greatest number of people
   • the greatest number among something

   The greatest number of visitors come in July and August.

   She received the greatest number of votes in the election.

   Among all the cities, Tokyo has the greatest number of restaurants.

2. 2nounsingularmathematics

   In mathematics, the largest value in a given set of numbers.

   Grammar: Often used in questions like 'What is the greatest number?' or 'Find the greatest number'.

   Patterns

   • find the greatest number
   • the greatest number in a set
   • what is the greatest number

   Find the greatest number in the list: 4, 9, 2, 7.

   The greatest number that divides both 12 and 18 is 6.

Common combinations

the greatest number of

The greatest number of accidents happen on weekends.

the greatest number among

This species has the greatest number among all the birds on the island.

the greatest number in a set

Write down the greatest number in the set.

Synonyms and how they differ

largest number

Largest number is very similar but is more common in everyday speech; greatest number is slightly more formal and common in written math problems.

maximum

Maximum is a technical term for the highest possible amount; greatest number is more general and can refer to actual counts.

Opposites

Word family

great adjective

Very large in amount or degree.

greatest adjective

The superlative of great; the most important or largest.

number noun

A word or symbol for counting or measuring.

Commonly confused: greatest number or great number?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “greatest number”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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