# million

/ˈmɪɫjən/ (US) · /mˈɪliən/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. the number 1,000,000

numeral · CEFR A1

the number 1,000,000.

For teachers: the cardinal number 1,000,000, equivalent to ten to the sixth power.

- The city has a population of over two million people.
- The charity successfully raised five million dollars during its annual gala, exceeding its original fundraising target by nearly twenty percent.

Usage: remains singular when preceded by a specific number or 'several'.

### 2. a very large number

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a very large but unspecified amount of something.

For teachers: an indefinite, extremely large quantity used for emphasis.

- I've told you a million times to clean your room.
- Despite the clear instructions, there were a million things that could go wrong during the live broadcast.

Usage: usually followed by 'of' plus a plural noun.

### 3. millions of people

noun · CEFR A2

many millions of people or things.

For teachers: a plural noun referring to multiple units of one million, often used to describe large populations.

- Millions of people watched the final match on television.
- Millions of migratory birds pass through this wetland every spring, making it a site of international ecological importance.

Usage: requires 'of' before a following noun phrase.

## Examples

- The city has a population of over one million.
- The charity raised more than a million dollars to build the new children's hospital.
- Even with a million stars visible in the night sky, the sheer scale of the galaxy remains difficult for the human mind to comprehend fully.

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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.