# NUM

CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/num
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

a word or number that describes how many of something there are. You use this when you are counting things or talking about an amount.

For teachers: a word, symbol, or figure representing a mathematical value or quantity. Often used to identify a specific item in a series or to quantify a mass.

## Pitfalls

- Not "a large amount of people" but "a large number of people" — Use 'number' for countable things like people or cars, and 'amount' for uncountable things like water or time.

## Usage notes

- Often followed by the preposition 'of' when quantifying a group of items.

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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.