verb
enumerate
ih-NYOO-muh-rayt
Enumerate (verb) means to list things one by one, usually in order and in full. Example: “She enumerated the objections in a calm, level voice.”
verb
1
To list things one by one, usually in order and in full.
"She enumerated the objections in a calm, level voice."
"The contract enumerates the circumstances in which the deposit is forfeited."
2
formal To count something, or to establish the number of a population or set.
"Census staff enumerated every household in the district."
3
technical In programming, to step through the items of a collection one at a time.
"The loop enumerates the files in the directory and prints each name."
How to use enumerate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo go through a set of things one at a time and name them.
When to use it
Formal; common in law, academic writing and technical documentation.
Memory tip
Do not confuse it with innumerable, which means too many to count: almost the opposite idea.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
enumerate vs innumerable
enumerate vs itemise
Common pairings
enumerate the reasons
carefully enumerate
enumerated powers
enumerate items
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Fill the gap
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She _____ the objections in a calm, level voice.
Etymology
From Latin enumerare "to count out", from e- "out" and numerare "to count", from numerus "number".
Related words
Rhymes for enumerate
See all rhymes for enumerate →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between enumerate and list?
List is the ordinary word and simply means to set things out. Enumerate is more formal and implies going through them methodically, one by one, often with the sense that the list is complete or numbered.
What are enumerated powers?
They are the powers explicitly written out in a constitution and granted to a body, as opposed to powers merely implied. The term is used most often of the specific powers the United States Constitution lists for Congress.
What does enumerable mean?
It describes something that can be counted or listed item by item. In programming an enumerable collection is one you can loop through element by element, which is a slightly narrower sense.
What is the meaning of enumerate?
"enumerate" (verb) means to list things one by one, usually in order and in full.
