# billion

/ˈbɪɫjən/ (US) · /bˈɪliən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/billion
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 2. a huge amount

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a very large, unspecified number of things.

For teachers: an indefinitely large quantity used for hyperbolic effect.

- I've told you a billion times to close the door when you leave.
- There are a billion different ways to solve this problem, so don't feel restricted by the traditional methods.

Usage: Usually used in the plural form 'billions of' when referring to a general large quantity.

## Examples

- The world population is over eight billion people.
- The government plans to spend several billion dollars on improving the national rail network over the next decade.
- While a million seconds is roughly twelve days, a billion seconds lasts for over thirty-one years, illustrating the vast scale difference between these two numerical orders.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.