number 1 of 2

1
as in digit
a character used to represent a mathematical value asked him to write out the equation in numbers, not letters

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
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
as in act
a performance regularly presented by an individual or group a modern dance number

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
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

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
While the death toll has not matched the horrific numbers in the Texas Hill Country, which has seen its own historic flooding, several people have died in North Carolina, including two boaters on Jordan Lake, and an elderly woman whose car was swept away by floodwaters in Chatham County. Jessica Pishko, New Yorker, 15 July 2025 The lower the number, the brighter a planet or star will appear in the night sky. Anthony Wood, Space.com, 15 July 2025
Verb
Rising American tennis star Taylor Fritz, currently number five in the world, is set to face 26th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina later on Friday for a place in the Wimbledon fourth round. James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025 The play slip looks a bit like a scantron sheet with five play areas (A–E) with boxes numbered 1–52 in the white play area and 1–10 in the shaded play area, according to the Tennessee Lottery. Allison Kiehl, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for number
Recent Examples of Synonyms for number
Noun
  • Charlotte weekend forecast Temperatures will reach up to about 95 degrees in Charlotte Saturday, with the heat index reaching into triple digits, the NWS forecast says.
    Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 19 July 2025
  • The file was converted from binary format into hexadecimal, an encoding scheme that uses the digits 0 through 9 and the letters A through F to represent binary values in a compact combination of characters.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 16 July 2025
Noun
  • What’s the Problem With BMI? Because body composition is linked to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and early death, physicians have traditionally relied on BMI to evaluate a person’s fat, bone, and muscle health.
    Julia Ries, Health, 15 July 2025
  • Most of what is known about Mercury’s surface and composition comes from NASA’s MESSENGER probe, which assessed the makeup of the planet’s crust from orbit.
    Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • The Oak Ridge Boys, Reba McEntire, Jeannie C. Riley, Connie Smith and the duo of Charlie Louvin and Melba Montgomery were among the acts who cut her songs.
    Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 22 July 2025
  • In a world quick to shame and slow to forgive, perhaps the most radical leadership act is to model a different way: one that acknowledges our shared humanity, holds space for growth and redemption, and focuses more energy on our own character development than on judging others’ character deficits.
    Margie Warrell, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
Noun
  • Whereas Elliot remains something of a cipher, a manchild whose amply displayed abs have more definition than his character.
    Dennis Harvey, Variety, 3 July 2025
  • We are used to viewing video-game protagonists as tireless ciphers.
    Simon Parkin, The Atlantic, 23 June 2025
Noun
  • The party managed this feat by linking economic and moral arguments, establishing a broad coalition against slavery.
    Joseph Thorndike, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
  • Miguel Vargas and Mike Tauchman helped the 2025 Sox accomplish that feat yesterday.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 21 July 2025
Noun
  • The Suns' calculation with Beal was somewhat different than the Bucks' with Lillard.
    Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
  • Brookshire’s grade took the biggest hit because the percentage of its lowest-performing students making those gains — part of the school grade calculation — plummeted.
    Zoey Thomas, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 July 2025
Verb
  • Broward teachers had a month to mail their ballots to the The Florida Public Employees Relations Commission, which counts the results and schedules the elections.
    Lauren Brensel, Sun Sentinel, 14 July 2025
  • The kitchen could have been in the Amityville Horror house with 85 flies counted on the ceiling and wall of the food exposition area at the kitchen entrance and 20 flies inside the kitchen.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • One Night in Idaho also features administrators of a Facebook group that aggregated details of the case, who flagged that someone under the username Papa Rodger posted numerous times about the crime, including questions about how the killer held the knife.
    Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 11 July 2025
  • Teams that go above the second apron also can’t aggregate contracts or trade a first-round draft pick that’s seven years in the future.
    Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Number.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/number. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on number

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!