multitude

Meanings

1. 1nouncountableformal

   A very large number of people or things.

   Grammar: Usually followed by of: a multitude of reasons.

   Patterns

   • a multitude of something
   • multitudes of something

   A multitude of stars filled the desert sky.

   The website offers a multitude of options for travelers.

   There are a multitude of reasons to learn a second language.

2. 2nouncountableliterary

   A large crowd of people gathered together.

   Grammar: Often used in older or literary writing.

   Patterns

   • the multitude gathered

   The multitude cheered as the king appeared.

   A great multitude waited outside the gates.

3. 3nounsingularliteraryold-fashioned

   The ordinary people as a whole.

   Grammar: Used with the: the multitude. Usually literary.

   Patterns

   • the multitude

   The speaker was popular with the multitude but not the elite.

   The law was written for the multitude, not for the few.

Word forms

Common combinations

a multitude of

A multitude of problems delayed the launch.

multitude of sins

Kindness can cover a multitude of sins.

a great multitude

A great multitude filled the square.

in multitudes

Fans came in multitudes to see the parade.

a multitude of reasons

I have a multitude of reasons for saying no.

Synonyms and how they differ

host

Host is more literary and often suggests an army or crowd.

crowd

Crowd refers to people gathered in one place, while multitude can be things as well.

myriad

Myriad is used as a noun or adjective for a countless variety, and sounds more elegant.

horde

Horde implies a disorderly, often threatening, crowd.

Opposites

Word family

multitudinous adjective

very numerous

multiple adjective

more than one

multiply verb

to increase in number

multiplicity noun

a large and varied number

Commonly confused: multitude or multiple?

Practice

Make it your own

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

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