As many as Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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as many as

[əz ˈmɛni ˈæz ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Adverb}

in comparison or quantity

Used to emphasize the number or amount of something, especially when it is unexpectedly large or small.

Synonyms

as much as, as numerous as, up to.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
as many as	To emphasize a large quantity or number of countable items, often used with a sense of astonishment or emphasis. There were as many as 200 people at the event The company plans to hire as many as fifty new employees
up to	To specify a maximum quantity or limit, indicating that the number or amount could be any value from zero to the specified maximum. The discount applies to purchases of up to $500 You can invite up to ten friends to the party
as much as	To talk about large amounts of uncountable quantities, typically used for things like money, time, or effort. She spends as much as $1000 a month on clothes He devoted as much as fifteen hours a week to his hobby
as numerous as	To describe a very large quantity of something, often used in more formal or descriptive contexts. It can sound a bit more sophisticated or literary. The stars in the sky were as numerous as the grains of sand on a beach The errors in his report were as numerous as the pages

Examples of usage

As many as twenty people showed up for the party.
I thought there were only a few tickets left, but as many as fifty were still available.
It could take as many as five hours to complete the project.

^{Context #2 | Phrase}

used for emphasis

An expression used to suggest a large or impressive number or amount.

Synonyms

a large number of, a substantial amount of.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
as many as	This phrase is often used to emphasize a surprising or unexpectedly high number, particularly when making comparisons or discussing quantities. There were as many as 50 people in the room. As many as 70% of the participants agreed with the statement.
a large number of	This phrase is commonly used to describe a considerable quantity of countable items or people. It is appropriate in both formal and informal settings. A large number of students attended the workshop. The library has a large number of books on various topics.
a substantial amount of	Use this phrase when referring to a significant quantity, often uncountable items like information, money, or time. It is typically found in more formal or professional contexts. The company invested a substantial amount of money in the new project. A substantial amount of evidence is required to prove the case.

Word

Description / Examples

as many as

This phrase is often used to emphasize a surprising or unexpectedly high number, particularly when making comparisons or discussing quantities.

There were as many as 50 people in the room.
As many as 70% of the participants agreed with the statement.

a large number of

This phrase is commonly used to describe a considerable quantity of countable items or people. It is appropriate in both formal and informal settings.

A large number of students attended the workshop.
The library has a large number of books on various topics.

a substantial amount of

Use this phrase when referring to a significant quantity, often uncountable items like information, money, or time. It is typically found in more formal or professional contexts.

The company invested a substantial amount of money in the new project.
A substantial amount of evidence is required to prove the case.

Examples of usage

There were as many as a hundred different flavors to choose from.
He has attended as many as ten conferences this year.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Language Use

The phrase is frequently used in statistics and research to indicate sample sizes, e.g., 'as many as 50 participants'.
It can express capability or limits, such as 'the car can hold as many as five people'.
In literature, it often serves to enhance descriptions by emphasizing abundance or significance.

Cultural References

'As many as' is commonly used in speeches and debates to emphasize a point or argue for numbers.
In viral internet trends, it's often used humorously to compare outrageous numbers, like 'as many as a million cats on the internet'.
The phrase appears in various proverbs and sayings, highlighting situations of abundance in cultures around the world.

Psychology

Research suggests that comparative language impacts perception; phrases like 'as many as' can amplify emotions related to scarcity or abundance.
Cognitive studies show that people respond more positively to information structured with comparisons, making phrases like 'as many as' effective in persuasion.
The use of this phrase can influence decision-making, as people may view options framed with comparisons more favorably.

Mathematics

In mathematical contexts, 'as many as' can be used to describe sets and their sizes, crucial in probability theory.
The phrase helps to articulate conditions in equations, such as 'there are as many as solutions to this problem'.
Using 'as many as' in mathematics encourages precision, ensuring clarity when communicating quantities.

Origin of 'as many as'

Main points about word origin

The phrase comes from Old English roots, where 'many' was used to denote a large quantity.
The term 'as' implies a comparison, originating from Germanic languages where it means 'like' or 'similar to'.
Combining 'as' with 'many' became a common way to express equivalence in quantity.

The phrase 'as many as' has been used in English language for emphasizing the number or quantity of something since the late 14th century. It is a common expression used to indicate a larger or unexpected amount, adding emphasis to the quantity described.