thousands upon thousands

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thousands upon thousands" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize a very large number of something, often to convey a sense of abundance or overwhelming quantity. Example: "The festival attracted thousands upon thousands of visitors from all over the country."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A figure that includes thousands upon thousands of tents.

The Guardian

There are surely thousands upon thousands still unnamed.

The New York Times - Books

The war had already killed thousands upon thousands.

The New York Times - Arts

Meanwhile, while thousands upon thousands of other helpless animals are slaughtered across the nation.

Stanford University

There are thousands upon thousands of known "Binary Stars," as they are called.

Cornell University

past thousands upon thousands of volumes.

University of Chicago

There are thousands upon thousands of such data centers.

Forbes

Not just a few, but thousands upon thousands of them.

Forbes

In addition, thousands upon thousands of workers, residents and farmers were deliberately contaminated — for testing purposes.

University of Chicago

Thousands upon thousands of authors have only published at Amazon.

HuffPost

Bankruptcy lawyer Steve Reisman has spent the last decade giving away "thousands upon thousands upon thousands" of $2 bills.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, consider whether a more precise number or a more concise phrase like "countless" would be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "thousands upon thousands" excessively in formal reports or academic papers. It can sometimes sound less professional than providing a specific estimate or using a more neutral term like "numerous" or "many".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thousands upon thousands" functions as a quantifier, emphasizing a large, indefinite number. As Ludwig AI underlines, this expression is employed to highlight the abundance or overwhelming quantity of something, without specifying an exact figure.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "thousands upon thousands" serves to highlight a substantial, yet indefinite, quantity, often used to emphasize scale and impact. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and frequently employed in various writing contexts, particularly in news and media. While common, it's worth noting that in formal settings, a more precise number or a more neutral term like "numerous" may be preferable. When aiming to convey a sense of awe or concern related to a large quantity, "thousands upon thousands" provides an effective means of expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

countless numbers of

Directly states that the number is too high to count.

a great many

A simpler way to express a large number.

a multitude of

Emphasizes the great number of items or entities.

a vast quantity of

Focuses on the large amount or volume.

masses of

Indicates a large, undifferentiated quantity.

myriads of

Uses a less common word for a large number, implying countless items.

an abundance of

Stresses the plentiful supply or availability.

innumerable instances of

Highlights the frequency and quantity of occurrences.

a sea of

Metaphorically suggests a large, overwhelming number.

oodles of

An informal way to describe a very large amount.

FAQs

How can I use "thousands upon thousands" in a sentence?

You can use "thousands upon thousands" to emphasize a large quantity, as in "The event attracted "thousands upon thousands" of visitors."

What phrases are similar to "thousands upon thousands"?

Similar phrases include "countless", "innumerable", or "myriads of", all of which convey a large, indefinite number.

Is it better to use a specific number instead of "thousands upon thousands"?

In formal writing or when precision is important, providing a specific number (e.g. "20,000") is often better than using ""thousands upon thousands"", which is less exact.

What's the difference between "thousands upon thousands" and "tens of thousands"?

"Thousands upon thousands" emphasizes the sheer number without being specific, while "tens of thousands" provides a more concrete, though still approximate, quantity.