sev·er·al
ˈse-və-rəl 
ˈsev-rəl
1
a
: separate or distinct from one another
federal union of the several states
c
: being separate and distinctive : respective
specialists in their several fields
2
a
: more than one
several pleas
b
: more than two but fewer than many
moved several inches
c
chiefly dialectal
: being a great many
plural in construction
: an indefinite number more than two and fewer than many
several of the guests
Examples of several in a Sentence
Adjective
It took several days for the package to arrive.
He arrived several hours ago.
We added several more names to the list.
The meat can be cooked several ways.
There are several similar stores at the mall.
a federal union of the several states
Recent Examples on the Web
Bethy Squires, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2025
Jackson’s dismembered torso was found inside a Rubbermaid container in a wooded area of Hempstead Lake State Park in Lakeview on June 28, 1997, and authorities said she was killed several days earlier.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 24 Apr. 2025
The large crowd remained in place for several hours, with some even climbing nearby trees for the best view.
—Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 23 Apr. 2025
The boos came despite Rhodes having carried the company for the past year and holding his own against Cena in several head-to-head mic battles.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for several
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Adjective
In a press conference Wednesday April 16, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made several inflammatory statements about autism.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2025
Jackson’s dismembered torso was found inside a Rubbermaid container in a wooded area of Hempstead Lake State Park in Lakeview on June 28, 1997, and authorities said she was killed several days earlier.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 24 Apr. 2025
The large crowd remained in place for several hours, with some even climbing nearby trees for the best view.
—Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 23 Apr. 2025
The boos came despite Rhodes having carried the company for the past year and holding his own against Cena in several head-to-head mic battles.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for several
Cite this Entry
“Several.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/several. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
several
1 of 2 adjective
sev·er·al
ˈsev-(ə-)rəl
1
: separate or distinct from one another : different
federal union of the several states
2
: being more than two but not very many
several persons
severally
adverb
-ē
several
2 of 2 pronoun
: a small number : more than two but not very many
several of the guests
Legal Definition
several
adjective
sev·er·al
1
a
: of or relating separately to each individual involved
specifically
: enforceable separately against each party
each promisor owed a several duty
see also several liability at liability sense 2b, several obligation at obligation
b
: being separately or individually responsible, liable, or obligated
a several obligor
compare joint
2
: separate or distinct from one another
to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the several States—U.S. Constitution art. I
U.S. Constitution art. I
severally
adverb
Etymology
Adjective
Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin separalis, from Latin separ separate
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