numbers
[nˈʌmbɚz] /ˈnəm-bərz/ (ame, mw)
numbers — noun
1. the written marks like 1, 2, 3 (or words like one, two, three) that we use to co
the written marks like 1, 2, 3 (or words like one, two, three) that we use to count, measure, or do calculations.
Sivan can already write the numbers from 1 to 20 in her notebook.
concrete countable use: the numbers from X to Y
Beatrix taught her grandfather to read the small numbers on his pill bottles.
small / large numbers on physical objects
The clock in the kitchen shows large red numbers that Kabir can see from across the room.
Children at the temple school learn their numbers by writing them on small wooden boards.
Print the numbers clearly on each box so the movers know which room they belong to.
用法筆記
Almost always plural in this sense; when a single mark is meant, English uses the singular 'number' or 'digit'. Distinguish from sense 4, where 'numbers' means a group of people or things rather than the written symbols themselves.
常見錯誤
2. a series of digits used to identify a specific person, account, or item — most o
a series of digits used to identify a specific person, account, or item — most often a phone number or a customer or membership code.
Christopher saved both of his cousin's new numbers in his phone before the flight.
new numbers (phone numbers) + save
After the move, Bilal had to give the school his updated emergency numbers.
emergency numbers (collocation)
Please write your account numbers at the top of the form before you sign it.
The clinic asked the patients to confirm the numbers on their insurance cards.
When the band became popular, fans tried every way to find Nia's personal numbers.
- contact details
broader — may include email and address too
- phone numbers
the most common specific subtype
用法筆記
Often refers to phone numbers when no other context is given. Distinguish from sense 1: here the digits matter as an identifier, not as a counting tool — you can't add or sort 'numbers' in this sense.
常見錯誤
3. the total count or quantity of people, animals, or things in a place or group, e
the total count or quantity of people, animals, or things in a place or group, especially when that total matters more than the individuals.
Visitor numbers at the museum dropped sharply during the summer heatwave.
visitor numbers (collocation) + drop
Tiger numbers in the reserve have slowly risen since Esteban's team started patrolling at night.
X numbers + rise / fall
Student numbers in the village school have fallen below thirty for the first time.
The protesters were small in numbers but very loud outside the parliament building.
Sirin watched as the numbers of returning farmers grew every spring after the new road opened.
- figures
common in news and reports for totals like sales or attendance
- totals
emphasises the final summed amount
- head count
informal; specifically the count of people present
文法句型
in numbers
用法筆記
Typically appears as 'X numbers' (visitor / student / tiger numbers) or 'numbers of X', and pairs with verbs of change like rise, fall, drop, double. Distinct from sense 4: this sense focuses on the count itself, not on a vague 'several' meaning.
常見錯誤
4. a vague but noticeable group of people or things — used when you want to say the
a vague but noticeable group of people or things — used when you want to say there were several without giving an exact count.
Jiwoo noticed numbers of seabirds resting on the rocks at low tide.
numbers of + plural noun (= several)
Numbers of villagers came down to the beach to watch the fishing boats return.
numbers of villagers (vague group)
Large numbers of swallows arrive at the lake every April just before the rains.
Mira was surprised that small numbers of tourists still visit the old fort in winter.
That weekend, growing numbers of injured climbers had to be carried down the mountain.
- lots of
informal; works in speech
- quite a few
everyday spoken English
- many
neutral and slightly more formal
文法句型
numbers of + noun
用法筆記
Always followed by 'of + plural noun' in this sense ('numbers of villagers'), and usually modified by 'large' or 'small'. Distinct from sense 3: there the focus is the count itself; here the focus is just 'there were quite a few'.
常見錯誤
5. earlier printed copies of a magazine or journal, where each copy is identified b
earlier printed copies of a magazine or journal, where each copy is identified by its issue order — typically used in 'back numbers'.
The library keeps back numbers of National Geographic going back to the 1980s.
back numbers of + magazine title
Jack ordered three old numbers of a Japanese cooking magazine from a second-hand bookshop.
old numbers of X (= earlier issues)
Most of the early numbers of the local newspaper were destroyed in the fire.
Élise donated her parents' collection of vintage fashion numbers to the design school.
- back issues
more common in everyday American English
- earlier editions
formal; also used for books
文法句型
back numbers of [magazine]
用法筆記
Almost always plural and almost always preceded by 'back', 'old', or 'early'. Singular 'number' (= one specific issue) is also possible but covered under the general singular entry. Distinguish from sense 6 (clothing item) by the publishing context.
常見錯誤
6. stylish pieces of clothing, especially dresses, that someone admires or chooses
stylish pieces of clothing, especially dresses, that someone admires or chooses to wear on a special occasion.
Luca showed up at the gallery opening in one of his sharper numbers from Milan.
sharp numbers (admired men's clothing)
Beatrix designs little black numbers for brides who hate traditional white dresses.
little black number (set phrase)
The shop window was full of glittery party numbers ready for the New Year crowd.
Mira borrowed two stunning numbers from her aunt's wardrobe for the wedding weekend.
用法筆記
Informal and almost always plural; almost always carries an admiring adjective (little black, sharp, stunning, glittery). The dress reading is the strongest; jackets and shoes are also possible but less common.
常見錯誤
7. short songs or instrumental pieces, especially ones performed in a stage show, c
short songs or instrumental pieces, especially ones performed in a stage show, concert set, or musical.
Stefan played three jazz numbers at the cafe before his proper set began.
jazz / opening / closing numbers
Sirin sang two slow numbers and then surprised the room with an old folk song.
slow numbers (tempo + numbers)
The musical opens with a few comic numbers about life in a small fishing village.
Nia rehearsed the closing numbers with the band until well after midnight.
用法筆記
Common in show-business and musical-theatre contexts; less common in pop or rock review writing. Usually carries a genre or mood word (jazz, slow, comic, opening, closing). Distinguish from sense 6 by the performance context.
常見錯誤
8. the fourth book of the Hebrew Bible and Christian Old Testament, mostly telling
the fourth book of the Hebrew Bible and Christian Old Testament, mostly telling the story of the Israelites travelling through the desert.
Stefan read a long passage from Numbers at the small chapel service on Sunday morning.
read from Numbers (proper-noun use)
The history teacher compared the desert journey in Numbers with later migration stories.
journey in Numbers (subject matter)
Numbers comes right after Leviticus and right before Deuteronomy in most Bibles.
Kabir's grandmother could quote whole chapters of Numbers from memory in her village dialect.
- the Book of Numbers
the full traditional title
文法句型
the Book of Numbers
用法筆記
Always capitalised as a proper noun and grammatically singular even though the surface form is plural ('Numbers is the fourth book...'). Common shorter title for 'the Book of Numbers'.