multitude

noun
mul·​ti·​tude | \ ˈməl-tə-ˌtüd How to pronounce multitude (audio) , -ˌtyüd\

Definition of multitude

1 : the state of being many … the mind falters, confused by the multitude and yet the harmony of the detail …— Theodore Dreiser
2 : a great number : host a multitude of choices a multitude of complaints
3 : a great number of people A multitude gathered to hear the governor's speech.
4 : populace, public a candidate trying to appeal to the multitude

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Synonyms for multitude

Synonyms

army, bike [chiefly Scottish], cram, crowd, crush, drove, flock, herd, horde, host, legion, mass, mob, press, rout, scrum, swarm, throng

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Examples of multitude in a Sentence

a candidate trying to appeal to the multitude awed by the multitude of stars in the night sky

Recent Examples on the Web

The Frenchman has struggled with a multitude of injuries since arriving at the Etihad, and Cancelo's ability to fill in on the left will lighten the load on the ever-improving Oleksandr Zinchenko. SI.com, "João Cancelo: 5 Reasons Why Manchester City's New Full-Back Is the Perfect Etihad Addition," 11 Aug. 2019 Dawkins kept his saxophone largely under wraps, instead preferring to conduct his musicians through a multitude of musical changes and exchanges. Jessi Roti, chicagotribune.com, "Pitchfork Music Fest 2019: 14 things we loved from a sweaty day 1," 19 July 2019 Her courage and strength carried her through a multitude of life challenges making her an inspiration to all of us. courant.com, "Janet Prager Dunn," 14 June 2019 Venture out onto the network of wooden boardwalks that wind their way through a multitude of travertine terraces with abstract shapes and contours. Niloufer Venkatraman, National Geographic, "6 can’t-miss stops in Yellowstone National Park," 13 June 2019 As the cameras gather data from passing or parked vehicles, information is transmitted to HIDTA and processed through a multitude of law enforcement databases that subsequently can alert officers if a vehicle nearby has been involved in a crime. Jeff S. Forward, Houston Chronicle, "License plate readers OK'd by Shenandoah council," 3 Mar. 2018 One of the leading reasons travelers venture to this hotel is for the multitude of spiritual healing approaches the hotel offers. Kimber Westphall, Dallas News, "These Instagram-worthy hotels are the main attraction," 22 July 2019 While generally referred to as garden hoses, hoses like these are designed for a multitude of uses, many of which have nothing to do with a garden. Bradley Ford, Popular Mechanics, "The Best Garden Hoses for More Than Just Your Garden," 16 July 2019 The park is open to visitors for a multitude of activities thanks to its football fields and 11 tennis courts, which are typically used by sporting clubs and groups in the area. Eric Todisco, PEOPLE.com, "Swan Kills Dog with Its Wings in Park as Owner Watches on in Horror as the Bird 'Beat Down on It'," 2 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'multitude.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of multitude

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for multitude

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin multitudin-, multitudo, from multus much — more at meliorate

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More Definitions for multitude

multitude

noun

English Language Learners Definition of multitude

: a great number of things or people
: ordinary or common people as a group

multitude

noun
mul·​ti·​tude | \ ˈməl-tə-ˌtüd How to pronounce multitude (audio) , -ˌtyüd\

Kids Definition of multitude

: a great number of people or things a multitude of choices

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