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Umpteen: meaning, definitions and examples

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umpteen

 

[ ʌmpˈtiːn ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

numerous, indefinite

The term 'umpteen' is used informally to refer to an indefinitely large number of items, occurrences, or instances. It suggests a quantity that is too numerous to count or specify. Often used in casual conversation, it communicates the idea of something being so frequent or numerous that it becomes overwhelming or hard to quantify. While it is not a precise number, it conveys a sense of abundance.

Synonyms

countless, innumerable, many, myriad

Examples of usage

  • I've read that book umpteen times.
  • She has asked me umpteen questions today.
  • We've seen that movie umpteen times already.

Translations

Translations of the word "umpteen" in other languages:

🇵🇹 incontáveis

🇮🇳 गिनती से बाहर

🇩🇪 unzählige

🇮🇩 tak terhitung

🇺🇦 безліч

🇵🇱 niezliczone

🇯🇵 無数の

🇫🇷 innombrable

🇪🇸 innumerables

🇹🇷 sayısız

🇰🇷 무수한

🇸🇦 عديد

🇨🇿 nespočetný

🇸🇰 nepočetný

🇨🇳 无数的

🇸🇮 nešteto

🇮🇸 ótalinn

🇰🇿 сансыз

🇬🇪 მრავალრიცხოვანი

🇦🇿 sayısız

🇲🇽 innumerables

Etymology

The word 'umpteen' is believed to have originated in the United States in the early 20th century. The exact etymology is unclear, but it seems to be a blend of 'ump' and 'teen,' with 'ump' likely derived from the informal use of 'umpity' or 'umpteen' referring to an unspecified quantity, combined with the suffix '-teen' which refers to numbers in the teenage range. It became a playful way to indicate numerous amounts without specifying a precise number. The term reflects an aspect of American colloquialism, emphasizing the speaker's perceptions of abundance while maintaining a lighthearted tone.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #37,861, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.