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
Carrying several rockets lets the aircraft conduct multiple engagements in one sortie, though the number of successful interceptions will depend on the targets, engagement conditions, and available ammunition. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026 Within the numbers, margin performance will be critical because FedEx is a self-help story – cutting costs, making its delivery network more efficient , and prioritizing higher-value parcel deliveries, such as for the healthcare industry . — Kevin Stankiewicz,zev Fima, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2026
Verb
Police said groups numbering from several hundred to more than 1,000 people formed unauthorized marches across central Paris on Saturday. — ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026 Autograph tickets will be numbered, with fans who purchase earlier receiving priority placement in line, the store said. — Raul Trey Lopez, San Antonio Express-News, 15 Oct. 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
  • Titles for locked chats will remain hidden, and all locked conversations will be protected by a 4-digit account PIN set by the user.
    — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 20 Oct. 2026
  • But electricity bills have stirred Angelenos’ ire as the extra A/C needed during triple-digit heat waves has landed people in the utility’s higher-cost tiers.
    — Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of digit
Noun
  • Vertical lines, from the tines of the pitchfork to the church steeple in the background, organize and order the composition.
    — Kelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Eastman recommends incorporating at least 15 percent Naia Renew into the composition to realize the fiber’s benefits.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of composition
Noun
  • Later, in 1711, the colony passed a legislative act to make reparations to the victims, including restoring the good names of the accused and paying financial retributions to the families of the accused.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The rush from the other 29 teams to acquire him would be quite literally hilarious, because trading Ohtani would be an act of financial suicide for LA and a massive windfall for a new team.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of act
Noun
  • There’s that vibrancy and, on the other side of the ledger, dead boys, ciphers, unfinished or unfinishable quests.
    — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of cipher
Noun
  • The feat concludes a pursuit that began in 2009, when Zhang first experimented with riding a motorcycle on water and overcame early failures to achieve his latest goal.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2026
  • It’s primed to leave theaters as one of the biggest non-musical documentaries of all time, a true feat for a nearly three-hour film that wasn’t publicized until a month before debuting in cinemas.
    — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of feat
Noun
  • Successful candidates will then be invited to spend a day at the bank’s offices where they are tested on banking regulation, their use of AI, and their ability to build calculations.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Given the same borrower information, loan program, property details, and applicable rules, the calculation and decision should generally remain consistent.
    — Ethan Stone, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of calculation
Verb
  • Because Tesla’s bylaws count abstentions as votes against, the measure failed, Bloomberg reported.
    — Heather Occhino, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The facts, however, are altogether against any such conclusion, for quite recently no less than 50 artificial butter factories were counted in this city, and large quantities of artificial butter are sold to the customer as genuine butter.
    — Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of count
Verb
  • Over time, the company has aggregated a combination of destinations, tournaments, leagues and camps, illustrating how physical facilities can anchor a broader participation business rather than function simply as real-estate assets.
    — Chris Russo, Sportico.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The sample was balanced across key demographic groups—including age, gender and region to ensure broad representation before aggregating responses to highlight the top state choices.
    — Gagandeep Singh, Sacbee.com, 24 Oct. 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 27 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about number

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