Idiom idiom
a number of sth
Meaning
This phrase means 'several' or 'some'. You use it to talk about a quantity of things when you don't have or need an exact count.
Examples
“I have a number of books on my desk.”
“The manager received a number of complaints about the new office policy this morning.”
“Following the storm, a number of trees had fallen across the road, making it impossible for the emergency vehicles to reach the village.”
Last updated April 22, 2026