several
SEHV-ruhl
Several (det) means More than two or three, but not very many. Example: “I've read several of his books.”
det
1
More than two or three, but not very many.
"I've read several of his books."
"Several people arrived late to the meeting."
"We waited several minutes for the bus before it finally came around the corner."
adj
1
Separate and distinct from one another.
"The committee members had several, and quite different, opinions."
"After the wedding, the two brothers went their several ways."
"The cousins live in their several homes across the country."
How to use several
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small but more-than-a-couple number of things, or things that are each separate.
Common mistake
Despite looking similar, "several" is not connected to the number "seven" or to the word "severe."
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Word forms
- Plural
- severals
- Comparative
- more several
- Superlative
- most several
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
I've read _____ of his books.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin separalis, from Latin separ ("separate"). Not related to "seven" or "severe" despite the similar spelling.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for several
feral
literal
general
liberal
funeral
lateral
mineral
federal
visceral
ephemeral
bilateral
collateral
See all rhymes for several →
Frequently asked questions
What does “several” mean?
The word “several” means more than two or three, but not very many. In plain terms, a small but more-than-a-couple number of things, or things that are each separate.
How do you pronounce “several”?
“Several” is pronounced SEHV-ruhl (/ˈsɛv.(ə.)ɹəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “several” in a sentence?
Here is “several” used in a sentence: “I've read several of his books.”
What part of speech is “several”?
Depending on how it is used, “several” can be a det and an adjective.
Where does the word “several” come from?
The word “several” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin separalis, from Latin separ ("separate"). Not related to "seven" or "severe" despite the similar spelling.
Is “several” a common word?
“Several” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “several” have?
“Several” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: more than two or three, but not very many.
What is the difference between several and severe?
These words are unrelated despite looking similar. "Several" is a determiner meaning more than two or three but not many, as in "several friends." "Severe" is an adjective meaning very serious, harsh, or intense, as in "severe weather." Mixing them up is easy in writing but changes the meaning completely.
How many is 'several'?
There is no fixed number, but "several" generally suggests more than two or three and fewer than about seven or eight. It sits between "a couple," meaning two, and "many," which implies a large amount. The exact figure depends on context, so "several" is deliberately approximate rather than precise.
What is the difference between several and many?
Both refer to more than a couple, but they differ in scale. "Several" means a modest number, a handful rather than a crowd. "Many" implies a large amount. Saying "several people came" suggests a small group, while "many people came" suggests a big turnout. The line between them is flexible.
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