many
MEH-nee
Many (det) means a large but unspecified number of (used with countable nouns). Example: “Many people showed up to the protest.”
det
1
A large but unspecified number of (used with countable nouns).
"Many people showed up to the protest."
"There aren't many seats left."
"How many chairs do we need for the party tomorrow?"
pron
1
A large number of people or things.
"Many of the guests left early."
"Many have tried to climb the hill, but few reach the top."
"Of the books on the shelf, many were old and dusty."
How to use many
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsed before countable things to mean "a lot of" — as opposed to "much," which is used for uncountable things.
Common mistake
Use "many" with countable nouns (many books) and "much" with uncountable nouns (much water) — mixing them up is one of the most common English learner errors.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
so many
as many as
too many
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Word forms
- Plural
- manies
- Comparative
- more
- Superlative
- most
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ people showed up to the protest.
Etymology
From Old English maniġ, ultimately from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "many" or "much" — related to similar words across most Germanic languages.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for many
See all rhymes for many →Frequently asked questions
What does “many” mean?
The word “many” means a large but unspecified number of (used with countable nouns). In plain terms, used before countable things to mean "a lot of" — as opposed to "much," which is used for uncountable things.
How do you pronounce “many”?
“Many” is pronounced MEH-nee (/ˈmɛni/ in IPA).
How do you use “many” in a sentence?
Here is “many” used in a sentence: “Many people showed up to the protest.”
What is another word for “many”?
Words with a similar meaning to “many” include a lot of.
What is the opposite of “many”?
The opposite of “many” — its antonyms — is few.
What part of speech is “many”?
Depending on how it is used, “many” can be a det and a pronoun.
Where does the word “many” come from?
The word “many” comes from Old English. From Old English maniġ, ultimately from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "many" or "much" — related to similar words across most Germanic languages.
Is “many” a common word?
“Many” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between many and much?
'Many' is used with countable nouns, things you can number individually, like 'many books' or 'many people.' 'Much' is used with uncountable nouns, mass or abstract things you cannot count one by one, like 'much water' or 'much time.' Choosing between them depends on whether the noun is countable.
What is an example of 'many' in a sentence?
'Many people attended the concert' shows a large number of countable individuals. 'How many questions are there?' uses 'many' in a question, where it is especially natural. 'She has visited many countries' stresses a large but unspecified count. In each, the noun could be numbered one by one.
What is the opposite of many?
The usual opposite is 'few,' which also works with countable nouns, as in 'few people came.' For uncountable nouns, the equivalent contrast is 'little.' Words like 'none' or 'hardly any' express an even stronger opposite. So 'many guests' contrasts naturally with 'few guests' or 'no guests.'
When should you use 'many' instead of 'a lot of'?
'Many' and 'a lot of' both signal a large number, but 'many' feels more formal and is especially common in questions and negatives, as in 'Were there many people?' or 'not many.' 'A lot of' sounds more casual and is preferred in positive statements in everyday speech.
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