Numerous: Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes

Meaning 1：a large number of (numerous)

numerous 🔊

/ˈnjuːmərəs/

adj.

A large amount of something; a word used when you can't easily count them all.

Illustration of numerous stars: a person gazing at a vast, star-filled night sky.

a large number of 🔊

➕

/ə ˈlɑːrdʒ ˈnʌmbər əv/

adj.

Describes a very large quantity of items, particularly when they are too many to count individually or easily.

📁 Category：Space Exploration 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Derived from Latin 'numerus' meaning 'number', with suffix '-ous' indicating 'full of'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'number' plus 'us' – numerous means many numbers, so many of us.

📖 Example

From our camping spot, we could see numerous stars twinkling in the clear night sky. 🔊 From our camping spot, we could see a large number of stars twinkling in the clear night sky.

🔗 Collocations

numerous occasions – many different times or events

numerous examples – a lot of instances or cases

numerous studies – many research investigations

🔄 Synonyms

many (adj.) – a large number, often countable

countless (adj.) – too many to be counted; emphasizes abundance

innumerable (adj.) – too many to be counted; similar to countless

🚫 Antonyms

few (adj.) – a small number

scarce (adj.) – insufficient in quantity; rare

limited (adj.) – restricted in number or amount

🌱 Derivatives

numerously (adv.) – in a numerous manner; abundantly

numerousness (n.) – the state of being numerous; abundance

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'numerous' originates from Latin 'numerosus', meaning 'full of number'. It entered English via Old French. Commonly used in academic, journalistic, and everyday contexts to describe large, often uncountable quantities.