numerous

Meaning

1. 1adjectivebefore a nounformal

   Existing in a large number, so that there are many of the things or people mentioned.

   Grammar: Used before a plural noun: numerous errors. It is not used with uncountable nouns, so say a lot of information, not numerous information.

   Patterns

   • numerous things
   • on numerous occasions

   The report lists numerous errors in the first chapter.

   She has visited the museum on numerous occasions.

   Numerous students complained about the noise in the library.

Common combinations

on numerous occasions

He had warned them on numerous occasions about the broken stairs.

numerous studies

Numerous studies show that sleep helps memory.

numerous examples

The textbook gives numerous examples of the rule.

too numerous to mention

Her achievements are too numerous to mention here.

numerous attempts

After numerous attempts, the team finally fixed the bug.

Synonyms and how they differ

many

Many is shorter and more neutral, and it fits both speech and writing, while numerous sounds more formal.

countless

Countless suggests so many that they cannot be counted, which is stronger than numerous.

multiple

Multiple simply means more than one and is used in technical or neutral contexts, with less sense of a large amount.

abundant

Abundant describes a plentiful supply and works with uncountable things, which numerous cannot.

Opposites

Word family

numerously adverb

in great numbers

numerousness noun

the quality of being many

number noun

a count or quantity

numeral noun

a symbol that stands for a number

innumerable adjective

too many to count

Commonly confused: numerous or numerical? numerous or numeral?

Practice

Make it your own

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

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