What does "several" mean?
An area of land in private ownership (as opposed to common land).
Several
/ˈsɛv(ə)ɹəl/ adj, adv, det, noun
adj, adv, det, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An area of land in private ownership (as opposed to common land).
- Grammar: several is listed as adj, adv, det, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: a certain number, a couple of people, a few, a few.
- Useful contrasts: lone, lone unit, single component fault.
- Usage evidence: He has been warned on several occasions.
How to use "several"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "several" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "several" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "several" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "several" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "several" is acting as adj, adv, det, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "a certain number" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "several", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An area of land in private ownership (as opposed to common land). obsolete
- 2 Each particular taken singly; an item; a detail; an individual.
- 3 An enclosed or separate place; enclosure. archaic
- 4 A woman's loose outer garment, capable of being worn as a shawl, or in other forms. archaic
Adjective
- 1 Separate, distinct; particular. obsolete
"Here is the will, and under Caesar's seal. To every Roman citizen he gives, to every several man, seventy-five drachmas."
- 2 A number of different; various.
"[…]for several virtues Have I lik'd several women; never any With so full soul but some defect in her Did quarrel with the noblest grace she ow'd, And put it to the foil[…]."
- 3 Separable, capable of being treated separately.
Adjective
- 1 considered individually wordnet
- 2 distinct and individual wordnet
- 3 (used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many wordnet
Adverb
- 1 By itself; severally. not-comparable
"Every kind of thing is laid up several in barns or storehouses."
Determiner
- 1 Consisting of a number more than one (especially, more than two) but not very many.
"Several cars were in the parking lot."
Synonyms
All synonyms a certain numbera couple of peoplea fewa fewa numbera number of
Antonyms
Example
"He has been warned on several occasions."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "several"?
Common synonyms include: a certain number, a couple of people, a few, a few, a number, a number of.
How do you use "several" in a sentence?
He has been warned on several occasions.
How do you pronounce "several"?
Pronounced /ˈsɛv(ə)ɹəl/.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman several, from Medieval Latin sēparālis, from Latin sēpar (“separate”). By surface analysis, sever + -al. Not related to severe or seven.