number

NUM-bur/ˈnʌmbɚ/UKNUM-buh/ˈnʌmbə/

Pluralnumbers

Verbnumbers, numbering, numbered

Often confused with amount

20 meanings of number

Practice

1
amount (of things)nouncountable
An amount or total of something; a quantity, including a large quantity seen as a source of strength.
A surprising number of guests arrived early.
The number of applications doubled this year.
UsageA number of + plural noun takes a plural verb; the number of takes a singular one: the number of cases is rising.
Similarquantity, total, count
Note
It can stand with no article at all, as when Francis Bacon writes in 1625 that number itself in armies importeth not much where the people is of weak courage.
Checked 3 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
Francis Bacon wrote the quoted words in his essay 'Of the True Greatness of Kingdoms and Estates'. en.wikisource.org
The quoted passage appeared in 1625; it was added to the earlier version of the essay. archive.org
2
value like 7nouncountable
An arithmetical value used in counting and calculation, such as 7, 250 or the square root of two, or the word or symbol that stands for it.
Pick a number between one and a hundred, and I'll try to guess it.
Any number multiplied by zero equals zero.
Similarnumeral, figure
Note
The word covers both the value used in counting and the mark that writes it. To say that some people cross their number 7 is to talk about the shape of a written figure, not the value it stands for. Numeral is the more exact term when the distinction matters.
Checked 3 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
Some people write 7 with a horizontal stroke through it. en.wikipedia.org
3
before a figurenouncountablebefore a noun
Used before a numeral to indicate the position of something in a list or sequence.
The committee approved item number seven on the agenda.
She ranked as number two in her graduating class.
UsageOften written No. or #: No. 7, #7.
4
ID codenouncountable
A sequence of digits, sometimes with letters, used to identify and register people, automobiles and other items.
The clerk entered the patient's identification number into the system.
Every shipment carries a tracking number for the warehouse.
5
phonenouncountable
The sequence of digits dialed to reach a particular telephone.
She gave me her number at the party.
He saved the new number under a nickname.
UsageGive someone your number, get someone's number; a wrong number is a call to the wrong person.
6
nouncountable
Figures or statistics showing how someone or something is performing, such as sales, poll ratings, or results; usually used in the plural.
The senator's poll numbers have slipped since the debate.
Markets rallied after the inflation number for September came in lower than forecast.
UsageCommon in poll numbers and sales numbers; to crunch or run the numbers is to work through the figures.
Similarfigure, statistic
Note
Newsroom shorthand for performance, used in politics, markets and sports alike. The numbers move like a patient's chart: they slip, climb, come in, or are up and down. The singular appears when one headline statistic is meant, such as a monthly inflation or jobs number, and set phrases like run the numbers or crunch the numbers mean working through the figures.
7
verbtransitive
To give a number to each of a series of things or people, in writing or aloud.
Volunteers number each box so nothing gets lost.
The editor numbered the chapters in sequence.
8
song or actnouncountable
A single song, dance or piece of music performed as one part of a larger show or concert.
The cast opened with a lively dance number.
He forgot his lines during the second number.
UsageOften with a type in front: a dance number, the opening number.
Similarsong, routine, piece

Less common meanings

9
be one ofverbintransitive
To include, or be included, as one of a particular group or category.
Few films number among the true classics of the genre.
He numbers among the founders of the entire movement.
UsageUsually number among: he numbers among the founders.
Similarcount, rank, figure, belong
10
verbintransitive
To amount to a total; to add up to a given count.
The protesters numbered in the tens of thousands.
The colony's ants number in the millions.
UsageFor an approximate total, use number in the hundreds/thousands/millions: they numbered in the thousands.
Similartotal
Note
The construction suits estimates, where the speaker knows the scale but not the exact count. Compare the counting verb, which takes an object. There the subject does the counting; here the subject is what gets counted.
11
nounformal
A group of people, especially one thought of as a body to which particular people belong.
Three of their number were elected to the city council last fall.
The committee chose its new chair from among its own number.
UsageAfter a possessive: one of our number, among their number.
Similargroup
12
grammarnouncountable or uncountable
The grammatical property of a word or phrase showing whether it is singular, dual, or plural, marked by inflection.
Verbs in English agree with their subject in number.
Some languages mark a dual number distinct from the plural.
Note
In grammar, number is a category marked on the word itself, usually by its ending. Words that belong together often must match in it, which is why grammars list it alongside gender and case: in German an adjective placed before its noun matches it in gender, number and case. In English the most familiar case is a subject and its verb agreeing in number. Some languages also keep a separate dual for exactly two.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 7 facts
Number can be expressed morphologically or syntactically, including through separate words. en.wikipedia.org
Endings are the usual way of marking number inflection. wals.info
Number agreement depends on the language and the grammatical relationship; related words do not invariably agree in number. en.wikipedia.org
Grammars treat number alongside gender and case as categories involved in agreement and declension. en.wikipedia.org
This describes inflected attributive adjectives; German predicate adjectives do not take agreement endings. coerll.utexas.edu
English subjects and verbs agree in number. nps.edu
Some languages have a distinct dual number referring to exactly two. en.wikipedia.org
13
outfitnouncolloquialcountable
An outfit, particularly a stylish or eye-catching one.
She showed up in a slinky velvet number that turned heads.
He bought an expensive designer number for the gala.
UsageUsually with an adjective: a little black number, a slinky velvet number.
Similaroutfit
14
personnouncolloquialcountable
A person, especially a notable, attractive, or distinctive one.
He married a lively number from the coast.
The boss is a tough number to deal with.
UsageUsually with an adjective, a tough number; said of a woman, it can sound flippant.
Similarcharacter
15
jobnouncolloquialUKcountable
A job, assignment, or activity, especially an easy or desirable one.
Editing the weekend column turned out to be a pretty soft number.
She found herself a cushy number at the front desk.
UsageMostly in a cushy number or a soft number.
Similarjob
16
doomverbtransitive
To limit to a certain quantity; to reckon, as if by fate, to be few in number.
Once the new mall opened, the little corner bookshop knew its days were numbered.
Everyone in the office knew the old manager's days were numbered after the merger.
UsageAlmost always passive, in someone's days are numbered.
Note
It means a limit has been set and the end is near, often as if by fate. The idiom is fixed enough that book titles play on it, from The Days of England Not "Numbered" in 1867 to Dan Bouk's history How Our Days Became Numbered.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
The Days of England Not "Numbered" is a published title. deriv.nls.uk
Dan Bouk wrote the historical book How Our Days Became Numbered. press.uchicago.edu
17
magazine issuenoundatedcountable
A single issue of a periodical publication, such as a magazine or journal.
The April number of the literary review featured three new poets.
When, in July, 1897, my father brought home the first number of The Railway Magazine, I little thought that, sixty years later, I should still be reading it, without having missed a single number.
1957, M. D. Greville, “A Diamond Jubilee of Railway Memories”
Similarissue, edition
Note
A publisher's term from a time when each issue was known by its place in a numbered series. Writing in The Railway Magazine in 1957, M. D. Greville recalled that his father brought home the first number in 1897. He added that he had not missed a single number since. Issue is the everyday word now, and this one gives a sentence a dated, bibliographic air.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 1 fact
In The Railway Magazine in 1957, M. D. Greville recalled his father bringing home its first number in 1897 and said he had missed no subsequent number. en.wiktionary.org
18
joint (drug)nounslangUScountable
A joint, a cigarette rolled with marijuana; also, some marijuana bought from a dealer.
She lit a number on the back porch after work.
He scored a number off his usual dealer that night.
UsageUsed in phrases such as roll a number.
Similarjoint, spliff
Note
In Thomas Pynchon's Inherent Vice (2009), Doc rolls a number and puts on a late movie.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
Thomas Pynchon wrote Inherent Vice, first published in 2009. en.wikipedia.org
Doc rolls a number and puts on a late movie in the novel. cdn.waterstones.com
19
verbarchaictransitive
To count; to determine the total quantity of something.
Who can number the grains of sand upon the shore?
From twentie yeare old and above, all that go forth to the warre in Iſrael, thou and Aaron ſhall number them, throughout their armies.
1610, The Bible: That Is, the Holy Scriptures Contained in the Olde and New Testament
Note
The counting verb of census and wonder belongs to scripture and elevated writing. In the Geneva Bible (1560), all those of twenty years and older who go to war are to be numbered. The rhetorical question asks who can number all the stars. In everyday English, count does this work, so save this verb for settings that are scriptural or deliberately grand.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts
The cited translation is the Geneva Bible, first published in 1560; 1610 identifies a later edition. en.wikipedia.org
Numbers 1:3 orders the numbering of Israelites aged twenty and older who can go to war. en.wikisource.org
The rhetorical example asks who can number all the stars. en.wiktionary.org
20
nounarchaicplural
Poetic meter; verses and rhymes regarded as measured arrangements of sound.
As yet a Child, nor yet a Fool to Fame, / I liſp'd in Numbers, for the Numbers came.
1735, [Alexander] Pope, An Epistle from Mr. Pope
Griefe brought to numbers cannot be ſo fierce, / For, he tames it, that fetters it in verſe.
a. 1631 (date written), J[ohn] Donne, “The Triple Foole”
Note
A poet's word for verse, thought of as measured sound, and it lives in the plural. John Donne writes of grief brought to numbers and fettered in verse. Alexander Pope recalls that as a child he lisped in numbers, for the numbers came. The word is now archaic, so use it only for that older literary ring or when quoting.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts
The literary sense denotes poetic metre or verse and takes the plural form. en.wiktionary.org
John Donne writes about grief brought to numbers and restrained in verse in The Triple Fool. rpo.library.utoronto.ca
Alexander Pope describes himself as a child lisping in numbers in Epistle to Dr Arbuthnot. en.wikisource.org

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of number apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It comes from Middle English via Anglo-Norman and Old French "nombre," from Latin "numerus" ("number"), ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to divide." It replaced the older Middle English words for the concept.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 5 facts

English number comes from Middle English. en.wiktionary.org
The Middle English word was borrowed through Anglo-Norman and Old French from Latin numerus. en.wiktionary.org
Latin numerus means number. en.wiktionary.org
The ultimate Proto-Indo-European root has the meaning to divide. mudrac.ffzg.hr
Number displaced older Middle English words for the concept. en.wiktionary.org