number 1 of 2

noun

ˈnəm-bər How to pronounce number (audio)
Definition of numbernext
1
as in digit
a character used to represent a mathematical value asked him to write out the equation in numbers, not letters

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2
as in composition
a literary, musical, or artistic production a doomsday novel that turns out to be one of those it-was-all-a-dream numbers

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3
as in act
a performance regularly presented by an individual or group a modern dance number

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4
as in cipher
a person of no importance or influence doesn't want to go to some mammoth state university where she would be just a number

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in feat
an act of notable skill, strength, or cleverness a stunning gymnastics number that really impressed the judges

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6
as in calculation
numbers plural the act or process of performing mathematical operations to find a value if you believe the president's numbers, we can afford these new programs and still have tax cuts

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number

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to count
to find the sum of (a collection of things) by noting each one as it is being added number those apples and tell me how many you have

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2
as in to aggregate
to have a total of the full-time staff numbers 30 people

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3
as in to include
to have as part of a whole is numbered among the great minds of our times

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of number
Noun
If internal promotion rates fall and companies lean harder on external senior hires who do not yet exist in sufficient numbers, the warnings from Cortez, DDI, and Korn Ferry will have been correct. — Cindy Rodriguez Constable, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 The push comes as DraftKings, FanDuel, Fanatics and Bet365 try to prevent state tax hikes on gaming and expand the number of states that allow mobile sportsbooks and casino products. — Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 30 June 2026
Verb
In 2016, the academy numbered closer to 6,000 members. — ABC News, 24 June 2026 Brown's days with the Celtics appeared to be numbered when Boston offered him and draft picks to the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo. — Matt Schooley, CBS News, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for number
Recent Examples of Synonyms for number
  1. digit
  2. composition
  3. act
  4. cipher
  5. feat
  6. calculation
  7. count
  8. aggregate
Noun
  • Lymphatic drainage has gone from a niche clinical treatment to a category spanning $8 dry brushes and $300 vibration plates, with search interest climbing by triple digits since 2021.
    — Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2026
  • As extreme heat pushed heat index values into the triple digits on Tuesday, the Red Oaks Waterpark in Madison Heights, Michigan, closed its gates, with Oakland County officials citing safety concerns for both visitors and employees.
    — Hannah McIlree, CBS News, 30 June 2026
Definition of digit
Noun
  • Sportsbook odds can also reflect risk management and bettor demand, while prediction markets can be influenced by liquidity and trader composition.
    — Giovanni Malloy, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
  • That’s not to mention an upcoming summer of local and national festivities that promises fireworks, parades, bands, speeches, prizes, and commemorative everything, from postage stamps and coins to musical compositions.
    — Brenda Wineapple, The New York Review of Books, 4 July 2026
Definition of composition
Noun
  • At the time, the colonies were still under British rule, making the creation of a national flag a potentially dangerous act.
    — Pete Cuddihy, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
  • The core party at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will feature performances by acts including the Smashing Pumpkins, Maren Morris and Anthony Ramos, according to the America 250 website.
    — Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 4 July 2026
Definition of act
Noun
  • But in my view, our relationships to animals, whose lives are untouched by the existential woes and artifices of personhood, are the richest and most evident ciphers for our own often inscrutable psyches.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 June 2026
  • Consider a dashboard that shows applications, including keys and libraries; network traffic protocols and ciphers; hardware, such as HSMs and TPMs; and third-party dependencies, including cryptographic or software bills of materials.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Definition of cipher
Noun
  • According to Kensington Palace, the princess’s achievement is an unprecedented feat for a member of the British royal family.
    — Stefania Conrieri, Vanity Fair, 6 July 2026
  • This summer marked his sixth — a feat only shared with Argentina's Lionel Messi.
    — Juliana Kim, NPR, 6 July 2026
Definition of feat
Noun
  • Even tiny electromagnetic disturbances can disrupt the quantum states that perform calculations, reducing the accuracy and reliability of the system.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
  • For this calculation, the institutional research department compared UC graduates’ earnings to out-of-pocket costs for their degrees and the opportunity costs of forgone wages of high school graduates of the same age.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of calculation
Verb
  • The department’s definition laid out several criteria used to weigh if degrees count as professional programs.
    — Collin Binkley, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
  • States can still count mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day, a blow to Republicans who had pushed for stricter regulations.
    — Chris Dobstaff, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of count
Verb
  • About 100 shots in the film were augmented with AI, Erwin said, using a combination of platforms that aggregate AI tools such as Luma, Amazon’s Project Nara and Magnific.
    — Corbin Bolies, Variety, 2 July 2026
  • That 22-1 blowout came one day after a 13-2 defeat to the Rays, and that aggregate 35-3 score looks bad, regardless of the sport.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026
Definition of aggregate

Phrases Containing number

Browse Nearby Words

numbed
number
numberable
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Cite this Entry

“Number.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/number. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on number

Nglish: Translation of number for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about number

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