1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in feat
an act of notable skill, strength, or cleverness
a stunning gymnastics number that really impressed the judges
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
2
as in to aggregate
to have a total of
the full-time staff numbers 30 people
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to include
to have as part of a whole
is numbered among the great minds of our times
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
In short, your portfolio may be too concentrated among a small number of investments.
—Doug Ashburn, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Craig Fehrman, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2026
After being designated for assignment, his days with the Giants organization may be numbered, as he has been removed from the 40-man roster.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for number
Noun
The department made its determination using tax numbers from 2022, which is the most recent year for which complete data is available, the letter states.
—Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
In short, your portfolio may be too concentrated among a small number of investments.
—Doug Ashburn, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
Even in a party that could number as many as 45 men, York stood out – for his courage, his skill and his sacrifices that helped the famous captains reach the Pacific Ocean.
—Craig Fehrman, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2026
After being designated for assignment, his days with the Giants organization may be numbered, as he has been removed from the 40-man roster.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for number
Recent Examples of Synonyms for number
Noun
-
The information the department is requesting would include information such as full name, date of birth, address, driver’s license and the last four digits of a Social Security numbers.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, believes one more month of triple-digit oil prices could be enough.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The warmth of the vanilla transforms the peach into something almost caramelized and deeply gourmand, giving the whole composition a richness that takes it to an entirely different level.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
3 Apr. 2026
-
In addition to Churchill Grounds and Clave, the center will host a music academy and a recording studio named Koolbonga Studios, named in honor of one of Williams’ most famous jazz compositions.—
Mike Jordan,
AJC.com,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Those are fighting words, and, in the coming days, the Pope can counter them as much through symbolic acts as through words of peace.—
Paul Elie,
New Yorker,
4 Apr. 2026
-
For certain great artists, Meis believes, the creative act is a safe harbor where life’s pressures, exigencies, and calamities aren’t so much denied or resolved as reimagined as pictorial dramas.—
Jed Perl,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 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
-
No mean feat, considering the brand’s first 24 hotels are set in remote, leafy locations that feel worlds away from real life.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Living in a seemingly perpetual athletic prime between the two generations, Caldwell would likely climb to the Moon if such a feat were possible.—
Namir Khaliq,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
With a superior code and decoder in hand, Cain, Xu, and Huang developed ways to pull off the intricate manipulations of the real qubits required to perform calculations, all while keeping them protected.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Her cooperation with Washington reflects strategic calculation and the need to buy time without losing the Chavista base amid geopolitical turbulence.—
Boris Muñoz,
Time,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
On their first night in Guangzhou, while Joost was in the private shower attached to their room, Martha pulled her money pouch from the recesses of her pack and counted her traveller’s checks.—
Cassandra Neyenesch,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
-
By most accounts, the conservative Supreme Court majority this week appeared skeptical of a Mississippi law that allows ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if they are received within five business days after the election.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
At their best, then, prediction markets aggregate collective intelligence to weigh the likelihood of future events.—
Parker Bach,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2026
-
RealClearPolitics, which aggregates numerous polls, didn’t have a figure for Mahan, likely due to his late entry into the race earlier this year.—
Paris Barraza,
USA Today,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Number.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/number. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
