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
Etzel noted that the order makes several significant changes, which include reducing the number of diseases targeted by childhood vaccines and separating the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine into individual shots. — Adisa Hargett-Robinson, The Washington Examiner, 12 Aug. 2026 Leathers said the fourth thing to check for is that the boat has the appropriate number of life jackets and sizes for the passengers on board. — Lisa Rozner, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
Five numbers are drawn from white balls numbered 1 through 70, while the final number is drawn from the gold Mega Ball, numbered 1 through 25. — Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 6 Aug. 2026 Google Assistant’s days have been numbered for a while, but the company has now settled on a date to retire its pre-AI assistant robot. — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 5 Aug. 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
  • Trucks can face triple-digit temperatures, dust storms, sudden flooding and high crosswinds.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • It’s been a warm summer in the Metroplex, with the region recording its first triple digit day on July 7.
    — Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of digit
Noun
  • The question is less about that and more about the water’s composition.
    — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Though both forces were roughly the same size, their composition, arms, and battle tactics varied greatly.
    — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of composition
Noun
  • Player development is not an exact science and bringing him along at the right speed will be a delicate balancing act for Alonso, amplified by the pressure to keep piling up Premier League points.
    — Matt Pyzdrowski, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The reissue includes more than half a dozen additional smashes from the Grammy-winning act, and fans of the group and those tunes in particular have turned the collection into not only a bestseller, but a top 10 success for the very first time.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 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
  • Alpha-Zero achieved these feats by playing tens of millions of games against itself—that is, by gathering experiences.
    — Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Carrick named an unchanged line-up in four of his 17 Premier League games last season — a feat Amorim managed just once.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of feat
Noun
  • But fewer will be able to afford the choice, especially when housing, family obligations and student debt are part of the calculation.
    — Francisco Ruiz, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The former is akin to the player profits the Premier League and UEFA allow clubs to include in their SCR calculations, but the EFL’s version comes replete with crucial differences.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of calculation
Verb
  • And Pereyra scored again on another assist from Caldeira in the 89th minute; that one needed a VAR check to count.
    — Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Even Larry Gagosian, in an interview this year, counted his attempt to establish a gallery there as one of his two notable failures.
    — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of count
Verb
  • Green’s own admission of using AI to quickly aggregate research to drive content creation may allude to a similar phenomenon of losing his own creative discretion amid growing demand for online content.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Samsung is using its distribution to aggregate audiences for programming owned by others.
    — Maureen Kerr, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 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 16 Aug. 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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