sev·er·al
ˈse-və-rəl 
ˈsev-rəl
1
a
: separate or distinct from one another
federal union of the several states
c
: being separate and distinctive : respective
specialists in their several fields
2
a
: more than one
several pleas
b
: more than two but fewer than many
moved several inches
c
chiefly dialectal
: being a great many
plural in construction
: an indefinite number more than two and fewer than many
several of the guests
Examples of several in a Sentence
Adjective
It took several days for the package to arrive.
He arrived several hours ago.
We added several more names to the list.
The meat can be cooked several ways.
There are several similar stores at the mall.
a federal union of the several states
Recent Examples on the Web
Harriet Blair Rowan, The Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2025
Merging the Postal Service with Commerce could result in several cost-cutting changes, Newsweek reported, with rural areas being hardest hit.
—George Petras, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2025
Stewart played Miss Yvonne in the stage show The Pee-Wee Herman Show and CBS’s Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, and also popped up in several other projects throughout the Pee-wee-verse.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 22 Feb. 2025
To be fair, there have been several spirited displays under Amorim’s management — at the Emirates in the FA Cup, on the other side of Stanley Park, too.
—Mark Critchley, The Athletic, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for several
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Adjective
When compared to the data reported over the course of previous flu seasons, the toll this year has already exploded past the totals from the last several flu seasons.
—Harriet Blair Rowan, The Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2025
Merging the Postal Service with Commerce could result in several cost-cutting changes, Newsweek reported, with rural areas being hardest hit.
—George Petras, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2025
Stewart played Miss Yvonne in the stage show The Pee-Wee Herman Show and CBS’s Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, and also popped up in several other projects throughout the Pee-wee-verse.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 22 Feb. 2025
To be fair, there have been several spirited displays under Amorim’s management — at the Emirates in the FA Cup, on the other side of Stanley Park, too.
—Mark Critchley, The Athletic, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for several
Articles Related to several
Cite this Entry
“Several.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/several. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
several
1 of 2 adjective
sev·er·al
ˈsev-(ə-)rəl
1
: separate or distinct from one another : different
federal union of the several states
2
: being more than two but not very many
several persons
severally
adverb
-ē
several
2 of 2 pronoun
: a small number : more than two but not very many
several of the guests
Legal Definition
several
adjective
sev·er·al
1
a
: of or relating separately to each individual involved
specifically
: enforceable separately against each party
each promisor owed a several duty
see also several liability at liability sense 2b, several obligation at obligation
b
: being separately or individually responsible, liable, or obligated
a several obligor
compare joint
2
: separate or distinct from one another
to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the several States—U.S. Constitution art. I
U.S. Constitution art. I
severally
adverb
Etymology
Adjective
Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin separalis, from Latin separ separate
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