Number
/ˈnʌmbər/
Definitions
4 meaningsA mathematical value used for counting, measuring, or labeling.
/ˈnʌmbər/
A mathematical object
The winning lottery number was 42.
💡 Simply: A number is like a label or a way to count things. It's how we know how many of something there are, like how many apples are in a basket. Or it can be a special code like your phone number that helps people find you.
👶 For kids: A number tells you how many of something there is, like 'one' apple or 'two' toys.
More Examples
Please dial the number to call emergency services.
There are a number of reasons for the project's success.
The phone number has changed.
How It's Used
"The number seven is a prime number."
"Can I have your phone number?"
An individual item in a series; one of a sequence or group.
/ˈnʌmbər/
A member of a group or set
She was assigned number 7 in the queue.
💡 Simply: When you're part of a group or a team, you might be called a number. Like, you are the number 3 on your soccer team or you are watching a musical number in a play.
👶 For kids: A number can be used to name something in a group, like a player's number on a team.
More Examples
This issue of the magazine is a special number.
The band played their latest number to a roaring crowd.
How It's Used
"The player's jersey number was 23."
"The band played their most popular number."
To assign a number to; to count or enumerate.
/ˈnʌmbər/
To assign a value
Please number the items on the list.
💡 Simply: To number something is to put a number on it. This helps you keep track of things. Like, you need to number all the pages in your book or your teacher needs to number all the students in the classroom.
👶 For kids: To number is to give a number to something, like putting numbers on the pages of a book.
More Examples
I numbered the paragraphs to make them easier to reference.
The tickets were numbered consecutively.
The scientist numbered the samples.
How It's Used
"Please number the pages of the report."
"We need to number the files."
To limit the amount or quantity of something
/ˈnʌmbər/
To limit
The authorities numbered the number of attendees.
💡 Simply: To number something can also mean to set a limit on things. Like, you can only number how many questions on the test or the police number how many people are allowed in the area.
👶 For kids: When a number is used to show a limit. For example, how many friends you can invite to your party.
More Examples
The government numbered the refugees allowed to enter the country.
The constraints numbered the amount of resources available.
The company numbered the number of staff to reduce the costs.
How It's Used
"The judge will number the charges against the defendant."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
by the numbers
Following a prescribed procedure or doing something in a mechanical way.
"The accountant prepared the financial statements by the numbers."
a number of
Several; more than one but not a large amount.
"A number of people attended the meeting."
your number is up
Your time has come, or you're about to face bad luck or punishment.
"After his reckless actions, the boss told him, "Your number is up!""
From Latin *numerus* meaning 'a number, a quantity'. It traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root *nem-* meaning 'to assign, to take'.
The word 'number' has existed in English since the Old English period, derived from Latin. It was used in similar ways to today, referring to quantity, order, and items.
Memory tip
Imagine counting sheep. Each sheep is a number.
Word Origin
"a number, quantity"