a number of
More than one
A number of means several or some—an unspecified quantity greater than one but not necessarily many: A number of people complained about the noise.
The phrase often downplays quantity, suggesting enough to be noteworthy without being overwhelming.
It takes a plural verb: A number of factors were involved.
- severalMore than two, fewer than many
- fewSmall in number
- someIndefinite quantity
- manyA large quantity
- aboutConcerning or approximately
batch · assortment · countless · smattering · group · multiple · more than one · around · sprinkling · handful · plenty · numerous · abundant · various · quite a few · quite a lot · a handful of · roughly
number, numbers, numbered, numbering, numerical, enumerate, innumerable, numberless, unnumbered