# divers

/ˈdaɪvɝz/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/divers
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. people who swim underwater

noun · CEFR A2

more than one person who swims deep underwater, often with special equipment.

For teachers: the plural form of 'diver', referring to individuals who engage in underwater swimming or work.

- The divers searched the bottom of the lake for the lost keys.
- Professional divers were dispatched to inspect the hull of the ship for structural damage following the collision in the harbour.

### 2. various or several

adjective · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

an old word meaning several different types of something.

For teachers: meaning various, several, or sundry; an archaic variant of 'diverse'.

- The old book described divers ways to cook a fish.
- The explorer's journal recounted divers adventures across the continent, ranging from narrow escapes to unexpected hospitality.

Usage: In modern English, this is almost always replaced by 'diverse' or 'various'.

### 3. an indefinite number

pronoun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

a formal or old way to say 'several people' or 'several things'.

For teachers: an indefinite number of people or things; functions as a plural indefinite pronoun.

- Divers of the group decided to leave before the storm began.
- Divers of his acquaintance had warned him against the investment, yet he proceeded with a stubborn disregard for their counsel.

Teaching tip: This pronoun use is extremely rare in contemporary English and is typically only found in legal or biblical texts.

## Examples

- The traveler visited divers places across the continent.
- The old library contained divers manuscripts from the medieval period, each written in a different hand.
- The collection was composed of divers artifacts gathered from across the empire, reflecting a wide range of cultural influences and artistic traditions.

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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.