number

1 of 2

noun

num·​ber ˈnəm-bər 

1

a(1)

: a sum of units : total

the number of people in the hall

(2)

: complement sense 1b(1)

… the whole number of Senators …

—U.S. Constitution

(3)

: an indefinite usually large total

a number of members were absent

the number of elderly is rising

(4)

numbers ˈnəm-bərz  plural : a numerous group : many

numbers died on the way

—Marjory S. Douglas

(5)

: a numerical preponderance (see preponderance sense 2)

There's safety in numbers.

b(1)

: the characteristic of an individual by which it is treated as a unit or of a collection by which it is treated in terms of units

there is a limited number of such laboratories

—P. D. Close

(2)

: an ascertainable total

bugs beyond number

c(1)

: a unit belonging to an abstract mathematical system and subject to specified laws of succession, addition, and multiplication

a number divisible by 2

especially : natural number

(2)

: an element (such as π) of any of many mathematical systems obtained by extension of or analogy with the natural number system

(3)

numbers plural : arithmetic

Teach children their numbers.

2

: a distinction of word form to denote reference to one or more than one

A subject and its verb should agree in number.

also : a form or group of forms so distinguished

3

numbers plural

a(1)

: metrical structure : meter

… most by numbers judge a poet's song.

—Alexander Pope

(2)

: metrical lines : verses

These numbers will I tear, and write in prose.

—Shakespeare

b

archaic : musical sounds : notes

4

a

: a word, symbol, letter, or combination of symbols representing a number

Spell out the numbers one through ten.

b

: a numeral or combination of numerals or other symbols used to identify or designate

dialed the wrong number

c(1)

: a member of a sequence or collection designated by especially consecutive numbers (such as an issue of a periodical)

just received issue number 8 of the magazine

(2)

: a position in a numbered sequence

You're number 7 on the waiting list.

d

: a group of one kind

not of their number

5

: one singled out from a group : individual: such as

a

: girl, woman

met an attractive number at the dance

b(1)

: a musical, theatrical, or literary selection or production

The actors broke into a song and dance number.

(2)

: routine, act

The comedian's number had the audience laughing out loud.

c

: stunt, trick

d

: an act of transforming or impairing

tripped and did a number on her knee

e

: an item of merchandise and especially clothing

put that black velvet number with the sequins on the blonde dummy

—Bennett Cerf

6

: insight into a person's ability or character

had my number

7

numbers plural in form but singular or plural in construction

a

: a form of lottery in which an individual wagers on the appearance of a certain combination of digits (as in regularly published numbers)

called also numbers game

b

: policy entry 2 sense 2a

8

numbers plural

a

: figures representing amounts of money usually in dollars spent, earned, or involved

We won't be able to stay in business with numbers like these.

b(1)

: statistics sense 2

especially : individual statistics (as of an athlete)

Her numbers make her the most valuable member of the team.

(2)

: rating sense 3c

9

: a person represented by a number or considered without regard to individuality

at the university I was just a number

10

: lifetime sense 1a

—used with up

the old feeling that comes to men in combat … that your number was up

—Geoffrey Norman

Amount vs. Number: Usage Guide

Number is regularly used with count nouns

a large number of mistakes

any number of times

while amount is mainly used with mass nouns.

annual amount of rainfall

a substantial amount of money

The use of amount with count nouns has been frequently criticized; it usually occurs when the number of things is thought of as a mass or collection

glad to furnish any amount of black pebbles

—New Yorker

a substantial amount of film offers

—Lily Tomlin

or when money is involved.

a substantial amount of loans

—E. R. Black

number

2 of 2

verb

numbered; numbering ˈnəm-b(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

: count, enumerate

2

: to claim as part of a total : include

3

: to restrict to a definite number

your days are numbered

4

: to assign a number to

number the pages

5

: to amount to in number : total

the crew numbers 100

intransitive verb

1

: to reach a total number

2

: to call off numbers in sequence

numberable

ˈnəm-b(ə-)rə-bəl 

adjective

numberer

ˈnəm-bər-ər 

noun

Phrases

by the numbers

1

: in unison to a specific count or cadence

2

: in a systematic, routine, or mechanical manner

a program run not by the numbers but with concern for the participants

Synonyms

Noun

• digit
• figure
• integer
• numeral
• numeric
• whole number

Verb

• count
• enumerate
• tell

Examples of number in a Sentence

Noun

the numbers and letters on a license plate

a three-digit number like 429

Think of a number between one and one hundred.

2, 4, 6, and 8 are even numbers; 1, 3, 5, and 7 are odd numbers.

Never give out your credit card number to anyone over the phone.

What's the account number on your electricity bill?

The page numbers are on the top corner of each page.

Today's winning lottery numbers are 17, 8, and 46.

I'm waiting for the number 3 bus.

Verb

She numbers and arranges the photographs according to when they were taken.

Each print is signed and numbered by the artist.

The team's coach bought all the players numbered jerseys.

In that year, European settlers in the area numbered nearly 15,000.

The animal, which once numbered in the millions, is now extinct.

He numbers her with the other great poets of the time.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Judge Kimberly Mueller of the Eastern District of California warned of what could happen if lawmakers don't pass the Judges Act, saying criminal defendants are waiting far too long for trials and some lawsuits are delayed for more than three years because of an insufficient number of judges. —Tobi Raji The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 23 Nov. 2024

For the first time, the public was invited to cast their vote for each category, which gave more chances of a larger number of projects standing out at the market. —Annika Pham, Variety, 23 Nov. 2024

Verb

Last year, active mines numbered less than a quarter of that, according to the United States Geological Survey. —Greg McKenna, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2024

In any case, our list of early Texas movie stars in last week's Think Texas column numbered a mere 15. —Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 12 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English nombre, numbre, noumer, borrowed from Anglo-French nombre, numbre (also continental Old French nombre), going back to Latin numerus "numerical sum or symbol, quantity, aggregate" — more at nimble

Verb

Middle English nombren, noumbren, nowmeryn, in part derivative of nombre number entry 1, in part borrowed from Anglo-French nombrer, numbrer, going back to Latin numerāre "to add up, count, reckon, compute," derivative of numerus "numerical sum or symbol, quantity, aggregate" — more at number entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing number

• a good number of
• agree in number
• algebraic number
• a number of
• any number of
• atomic number
• Avogadro's number
• beyond number
• Brinell hardness number
• call number
• cardinal number
• cetane number
• chromosome number
• complex number
• compound number
• conjugate complex number
• coordination number
• counting number
• denominate number
• do a number on
• even number
• Fibonacci number
• f-number
• go number one
• have someone's number
• hot number
• imaginary number
• index number
• in number
• irrational number
• license number
• look out for number one
• Mach number
• magnetic quantum number
• mass number
• mixed number
• natural number
• number cruncher
• number line
• number one
• number one pick
• number plate
• number sign
• number theory
• number two
• octane number
• odd number
• one of our/your/their number
• opposite number
• ordinal number
• perfect number
• pre-number
• prime number
• public enemy number one
• quantum number
• rational number
• real number
• registration number
• Reynolds number
• round number
• serial number
• Social Security number
• someone's number is up
• telephone number
• triangular number
• wave number
• went number two
• whole number
• without number
• wrong number

Kids Definition

number

1 of 2 noun

num·​ber ˈnəm-bər 

1

a

: the total of persons, things, or units taken together : amount

the number of people in the room

b

: the possibility of being counted

mosquitoes in swarms beyond number

c

: a total that is not specified : many

a number of accidents occur on wet roads

2

a

: a unit belonging to a mathematical system and subject to its laws

a number divisible by 2

b

plural : arithmetic

3

: a quality of a word form that shows whether the word is singular or plural

a verb agrees in number with its subject

4

a

: a word, symbol, or letter used to represent a mathematical number

b

: a certain numeral for telling one person or thing from another or from others

a phone number

5

: one in a series

the June number of a magazine

6

: a musical, theatrical, or literary selection

number

2 of 2 verb

numbered; numbering -b(ə-)riŋ 

1

: count entry 1 sense 1a, enumerate

2

: to claim as part of a total : include

was numbered among the guests

3

: to restrict to a definite number

vacation days are numbered now

4

: to assign a number to

number the pages of a scrapbook

5

: to add up to or have a total of

our group numbered ten in all

numberer

-bər-ər 

noun