many lives

USAGE SUMMARY

'many lives' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a large number of lives, either figuratively or literally. For example, "The author has written books that have touched many lives."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"They saved many lives".

The New York Times

Many lives were saved.

The New York Times

He touched many lives".

Independent

Stanley touched many lives.

The New York Times

Jim touched many lives.

The New York Times

She lived many lives.

The New Yorker

Many lives.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

It could save many lives.

The New York Times

This place saved many lives".

The New York Times

His work touched many lives.

The New York Times

Photographs have many lives.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "many lives" to convey the impact or reach of an event, person, or action on a significant number of individuals. For instance, "The new policy will affect many lives in the community."

Common error

Avoid using "many lives" in overly sentimental or clichéd contexts. Instead, opt for more specific language that details the actual impact or consequences on individuals.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "many lives" functions primarily as a quantifier followed by a noun, indicating a significant number of human existences. According to Ludwig, it is a valid and usable phrase in written English, often used to express the widespread impact or effect of an action or event.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Science

11%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "many lives" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to denote a significant number of human existences. According to Ludwig AI, it's perfectly acceptable in written English. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it serves to highlight the widespread impact or consequences of events, actions, or decisions. While alternatives such as "countless lives" or "numerous existences" exist, "many lives" remains a versatile and effective way to convey the scale of influence on individuals.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a multitude of lives

Emphasizes the large quantity of lives.

countless existences

Highlights the idea that the number of lives is too high to count.

numerous existences

Focuses on the sheer quantity of lives or existences.

multiple life stories

Highlights the narrative aspect and diversity of individual lives.

various lifetimes

Emphasizes different phases or periods within a life.

innumerable souls

Emphasizes the spiritual aspect of the lives.

legion of life experiences

Uses "legion" to emphasize a very large number of life experiences.

abundant experiences

Focuses on the richness and quantity of experiences accumulated across lives.

profusion of beings

Highlights the great quantity or amount of lives.

several instances of living

A more literal and less common way to express the concept.

FAQs

How can I use "many lives" in a sentence?

You can use "many lives" to describe the broad impact of something, for example: "The doctor's research saved "many lives"."

What are some alternatives to using "many lives"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "countless lives", "numerous lives", or "a multitude of lives".

Is it better to say "many lives were affected" or "many lives were impacted"?

Both "affected" and "impacted" are acceptable, but "affected" is generally preferred in formal writing. "Impacted" is more common in business contexts.

What does it mean when someone says a person "lived many lives"?

It suggests that the person had diverse experiences, careers, or roles, similar to saying they were adaptable and multifaceted.