Several is used to refer to an imprecise number of people or things that is not large but is greater than two.
I had lived two doors away from this family for several years.
Several blue plastic boxes under the window were filled with record albums.
Several hundred students gathered on campus.
Several is also a quantifier.
Several of the delays were caused by the new high-tech baggage system. [+ of]
According to several of their friends, their 25-year marriage has suffered some difficulties.
Several is also a pronoun.
No one drug will suit or work for everyone and sometimes several may have to be tried.
Ben's case is not unique but one of several I have come up against during the pastfew years.
Synonyms: some, a few, a number of, a handful of More Synonyms of several
More Synonyms of several
English Easy Learning GrammarDeterminersDeterminers are words that make the reference of nouns more specific. If I say ‘thiscar’ it is clear that I mean a particular car which is near me. If ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarIndefinite pronounsThe indefinite pronouns are used when you do not know or do not need to say preciselywho or what you are referring to. The noun phrase which they substitute ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarNoun phrases with several determinersMost noun phrases contain only one determiner or none at all, but if there are more,they follow a definite order. Determiners can be divided into four ... Read more
several in British English
(ˈsɛvrəl)
determiner
1.
a.
more than a few; an indefinite small number
several people objected
b.
(as pronoun; functioning as plural)
several of them know
adjective
2. (prenominal)
various; separate
the members with their several occupations
3. (prenominal)
distinct; different
three several times
4. law
capable of being dealt with separately; not shared
Compare joint (sense 15)
Word origin
C15: via Anglo-French from Medieval Latin sēparālis, from Latin sēpār, from sēparāre to separate
several in American English
(ˈsɛvərəl; ˈsɛvrəl)
adjective
1.
existing apart; separate; distinct; individual
2.
different; respective
parted and went their several ways
3.
more than two but not many; of an indefinite but small number; few
4. Chiefly Dialectal
quite a few; many
5. Law
of or having to do with an individual person; not shared or joint
plural noun
6.
an indefinite but small number (of persons or things)
pronoun [with pl. v.]
7.
several persons or things; a few
Word origin
ME < Anglo-Fr < ML separalis < L separ, separate, back-form. < separare: see UNRESOLVED CROSS REF
Examples of 'several' in a sentence
several
He was no cynic and he had been successful in love several times, but he agreed: love could be debilitating.
Jon Cleary YESTERDAY'S SHADOW (2002)
It attacked again, every sweep of its hooks forcing Lirael back several paces.
Garth Nix LIRAEL: DAUGHTER OF THE CLAYR (2002)
He had been surprised to learn that most of Damin's Raiders spoke several languages.
Jennifer Fallon TREASON KEEP (2002)
Sara blinked several times, letting her eyes adjust to the unnatural light.
Karin Slaughter BLINDSIGHTED (2002)
In other languages
several
British English: several /ˈsɛvrəl/ DETERMINER
Several is used to talk about a number of people or things that is not large but is greater than two.
I lived there for several years.
American English: several
Arabic: عَدِيد
Brazilian Portuguese: vários
Chinese: 若干个
Croatian: nekoliko
Czech: několik
Danish: flere
Dutch: een paar
European Spanish: varios
Finnish: usea
French: plusieurs
German: mehrere
Greek: κάμποσος
Italian: parecchi
Japanese: いくつかの
Korean: 몇몇의
Norwegian: solidarisk
Polish: osobny
European Portuguese: vários
Romanian: câțiva
Russian: несколько
Latin American Spanish: varios
Swedish: flera
Thai: หลาย
Turkish: birkaç
Ukrainian: декілька
Vietnamese: vài
British English: several /ˈsɛvrəl/ PRONOUN
Several means a small number of people or things that is greater than two.
You may have to try several before you find the right treatment.
American English: several
Arabic: عِدَّة
Brazilian Portuguese: muitos
Chinese: 数个
Croatian: nekoliko
Czech: několik
Danish: mange
Dutch: verscheidene
European Spanish: varios algunos
Finnish: usea
French: plusieurs
German: einige
Greek: μερικοί
Italian: parecchi
Japanese: 数個
Korean: 몇몇
Norwegian: flere
Polish: kilku
European Portuguese: muitos
Romanian: câțiva
Russian: другой
Latin American Spanish: varios
Swedish: flera
Thai: มากกว่าสอง
Turkish: birkaç
Ukrainian: декілька
Vietnamese: vài
All related terms of 'several'
joint and several guarantee
a legal guarantee undertaken by multiple people in which any one guarantor can be held fully responsible for repaying the whole of the debt despite each guarantor only being partially responsible for that debt
joint and several liability
legal responsibility for the whole of a debt for which you are only partially responsible
have several irons in the fire
to be involved in many projects , activities , etc
keep several balls in the air
If you keep several balls in the air , you try to do several different things at once.
at one remove/ at several removes
If you do or experience something at one remove , you do not do it or experience it yourself, but someone else does it or experiences it instead of you.
have many (or several, etc.) irons in the fire
to have or be engaged in many (or several, etc.) activities , enterprises , or the like
Chinese translation of 'several'
several
(ˈsɛvərl)
adj, pron
几(幾)个(個) (jǐ gè)
⇒ several hours later几个小时后 (jǐ gè xiǎoshí hòu)
several times几(幾)次 (jǐ cì)
several of us我们(們)中的几(幾)个(個) (wǒmen zhōng de jǐ gè)
(pronoun)
Definition
more than a few
I had lived two doors away from his family for several years.
Synonyms
some
a few
a number of
a handful of
many
manifold
1 (adjective)
Definition
various or separate
one of several failed attempts
Synonyms
various
The methods employed are many and various.
different
Different countries specialise in different products.
diverse
shops selling a diverse range of gifts
divers (archaic)
assorted
swimsuits, sizes 12-18, in assorted colours
disparate
Scientists are trying to pull together disparate ideas.
indefinite
sundry
2 (adjective)
Definition
distinct or different
(formal)
Synonyms
different
What you do in the privacy of your own home is a different matter.
single
Every single house had been damaged.
individual
We develop our own individual style of writing.
particular
What particular aspects of the job are you interested in?
distinct
The book is divided into two distinct parts.
respective
They went into their respective bedrooms.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of assorted
Definition
consisting of various kinds mixed together
swimsuits, sizes 12-18, in assorted colours
Synonyms
various,
different,
mixed,
varied,
diverse,
diversified,
miscellaneous,
sundry,
motley,
variegated,
manifold (formal),
heterogeneous
in the sense of disparate
Definition
utterly different in kind
Scientists are trying to pull together disparate ideas.
Synonyms
different,
contrasting,
unlike,
contrary,
distinct,
diverse,
at odds,
dissimilar,
discordant,
at variance,
discrepant
in the sense of distinct
Definition
not the same
The book is divided into two distinct parts.
Synonyms
different,
individual,
separate,
disconnected,
discrete,
dissimilar,
unconnected,
unattached
Synonyms of 'several'
several
Explore 'several' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of divers
Synonyms
various,
some,
many,
different,
several,
varied,
numerous,
sundry,
manifold (formal),
multifarious
in the sense of diverse
Definition
having variety
shops selling a diverse range of gifts
Synonyms
various,
mixed,
varied,
diversified,
assorted,
miscellaneous,
several,
sundry,
motley,
manifold (formal),
heterogeneous,
of every description
in the sense of individual
Definition
separate or distinct from others of its kind
We develop our own individual style of writing.
Synonyms
distinctive,
special,
personal,
particular,
specific,
characteristic,
distinguishing,
distinct,
signature,
peculiar,
respective,
idiosyncratic,
personalized,
own,
several
in the sense of particular
Definition
of, belonging to, or being one person or thing
What particular aspects of the job are you interested in?
Synonyms
specific,
special,
express,
exact,
precise,
distinct,
peculiar
in the sense of respective
Definition
relating separately to each of several people or things