number 1 of 2

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
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

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
The debate comes after weeks of tense exchanges and shifting poll numbers. James Ward, USA Today, 15 May 2026 The percentage of women — out of the total number of directors — who have feature films in the official selection this year (competition, Un Certain Regard, out of competition, Midnight Screening, Special Screening and Cannes Première) is at 34 percent, up 8 percent from 2025. Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
Verb
Five of them will be white balls numbered 1 to 69. Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 11 May 2026 Some reportedly own dozens of Lamborghinis, while others maintain collections numbering in the hundreds of vehicles. James Morris, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for number
Recent Examples of Synonyms for number
Noun
  • The eight-time All-Star is one of the rare pitchers this century to maintain triple-digit velocity while staying healthy for more than a few seasons.
    Dennis Lin, New York Times, 21 May 2026
  • The news is sure to make purists groan, but the tradeoff is an output that reaches into four-digit territory.
    Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 20 May 2026
Noun
  • Such spectroscopy is a powerful technique for in-depth studies of celestial objects, capable of revealing their rotation, motion, composition, distance, and much more.
    Phil Plait, Scientific American, 15 May 2026
  • The heart to heart chat played a big role in Hannah’s composition for the Pop Music Showcase, which stemmed from a specific phrase Allie used to describe Hannah.
    Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 15 May 2026
Noun
  • But as the debate gains national attention, more families argue that acknowledging biological differences is not an act of hatred.
    Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
  • The act, the first piece of legislation focused on crypto, would add oversight and guardrails to the new industry.
    Alex Harring, CNBC, 15 May 2026
Noun
  • As zonky cross-generational ciphers go, the group’s debut, Strictly 4 the Scythe, is no Hypnotize Camp Posse, the amalgam of Three 6 Mafia and a grip of artists signed to their Hypnotize Minds label in the early 2000s.
    Dylan Green, Pitchfork, 12 Mar. 2026
  • The still-unidentified Zodiac Killer, who terrorized the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 1960s, frequently sent threats, demands and ciphers to multiple local papers — namely the San Francisco Chronicle.
    Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • This journey culminated in the 2018 production at Glyndebourne, which accomplished the feat of finally reducing (most of) the London critics to abashed admiration.
    Russell Platt, New Yorker, 20 May 2026
  • But in February a team from Iceberg Quantum in Sydney, Australia, dramatically reduced that estimate, calculating that with careful optimization and error correction, hackers might need fewer than 100,000 qubits for the feat.
    Zeeya Merali, Scientific American, 19 May 2026
Noun
  • Now, the farmer is running the calculations.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 16 May 2026
  • Often referred to as the next frontier of computing, quantum computers are being sought to complete calculations that are impossible for classical computers.
    Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 15 May 2026
Verb
  • What counts more here than Keckly’s balanced view of Mary is her paean to Lincoln.
    Thomas Mallon, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
  • With over 90% of the Pelican State tally counted, Letlow was holding steady with about 44% of the vote versus Fleming's roughly 28% and Cassidy's approximately 25%.
    Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 17 May 2026
Verb
  • Reconomy also suggested that companies work with other entities in their sector to aggregate textile waste to reach volumes that will be sufficient to make recycling economically viable.
    Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 19 May 2026
  • Data aggregated by Blind, an anonymous professional network that requires users to verify their employment with a work email address, reveals some of the internal malaise.
    Jonathan Vanian,Julia Boorstin, CNBC, 18 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Number.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/number. Accessed 22 May. 2026.

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