numerous friends

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'numerous friends' is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to describe a large number of friends. For example, "John has numerous friends, but he doesn't feel like he really connects with any of them."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

She has lost numerous friends.

The New York Times

Survived by loving family and numerous friends.

The New York Times

Odom has reportedly been visited by numerous friends and family.

Independent

He will be greatly missed by his numerous friends.

The New York Times

She is left with numerous friends and family.

The New York Times

We extend our sympathy to his family and numerous friends.

The New York Times

"I have numerous friends who were laid off.

The New York Times

Also survived by her aunts, uncles, cousins and numerous friends.

The New York Times

He enjoyed great renown in England, where he had numerous friends and which he often visited.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He had numerous friends among the leading French painters of his day, including J.-A.-D.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Iraqi Kurds count numerous friends and no sworn enemies among the entities listed.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's social life, use "numerous friends" to convey that they have a substantial and diverse group of acquaintances. It suggests a rich social network.

Common error

While "numerous friends" is generally acceptable, avoid using it excessively in highly formal or academic writing. Consider more precise or descriptive alternatives to maintain a professional tone. For example, try saying "a diverse network of collaborators" or "a large group of colleagues".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "numerous friends" functions as a noun phrase modified by the adjective "numerous". It typically serves as a subject or object in a sentence, describing the quantity of friends someone has. As Ludwig AI explains, it describes a large number of friends.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "numerous friends" is a grammatically correct and commonly used way to describe someone who has a large number of friends. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It's particularly frequent in news and media contexts, as well as encyclopedias, suggesting its widespread acceptance and neutrality. While alternatives like "many friends" or "a lot of friends" exist, "numerous friends" carries a slightly more formal tone. When using this phrase, consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing. To sum up, as shown in the provided examples, "numerous friends" serves to highlight an individual's social network or popularity without necessarily implying the depth of those relationships.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

many friends

Replaces "numerous" with a simpler and more common synonym, slightly reducing the formality.

countless friends

Emphasizes the large number of friends, suggesting they are too many to count easily.

innumerable friends

Similar to "countless friends", highlights the vast quantity of friends.

a great number of friends

Replaces "numerous" with a more formal and emphatic expression, increasing the formality.

a lot of friends

Uses a more informal and colloquial expression to indicate a large quantity of friends.

plenty of friends

Emphasizes the abundance of friends in a slightly informal way.

a host of friends

Uses a more literary and somewhat archaic expression to describe a large group of friends.

multiple friends

Indicates that there is more than one friend without indicating they are difficult to count.

a wide circle of friends

Focuses on the diversity and breadth of the friendships, rather than just the quantity.

various friends

Focuses on the diverse range of friends, rather than the quantity.

FAQs

How can I use "numerous friends" in a sentence?

You can use "numerous friends" to indicate that someone has many friends. For example: "She was surrounded by her "numerous friends" at the party."

What can I say instead of "numerous friends"?

You can use alternatives like "many friends", "a lot of friends", or "a wide circle of friends" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "numerous friends" or "many friends"?

"Many friends" is generally more common and versatile. "Numerous friends" sounds slightly more formal and emphasizes a substantial quantity. The choice depends on the tone you want to convey.

What is the difference between "numerous friends" and "close friends"?

"Numerous friends" refers to a large quantity of friends, without specifying the depth of those relationships. "Close friends" refers to a smaller group of friends with whom one shares deep emotional connections and intimacy.