How do you use "several" in a sentence?

I've visited London several times. Several people complained about the noise. It took me several hours to finish the report.

several

Q: What does "several" mean?

More than two but not very many 'Several' indicates a small number, typically more than two or three but less than many (roughly 3-7). It's more precise than 'some' but less specific than an exact number. 'Several' is used with countable nouns. It can also mean 'separate' in formal contexts ('they went their several ways').

Vocabulary Word BritishAmerican ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: More than two but not very many

几个，一些

varios, algunas

いくつかの、数人の

몇몇의, 여러 개의

'Several' indicates a small number, typically more than two or three but less than many (roughly 3-7). It's more precise than 'some' but less specific than an exact number. 'Several' is used with countable nouns. It can also mean 'separate' in formal contexts ('they went their several ways').

「several」表示一个小数量，通常超过两三个但不到很多（大约3-7个）。它比「some」更精确，但不如确切数字具体。「several」与可数名词连用。在正式语境中也可以意为「各自的」（「they went their several ways」）。

«Several» indica un número pequeño, típicamente más de dos o tres pero menos de muchos (aproximadamente 3-7). Es más preciso que «some» pero menos específico que un número exacto. «Several» se usa con sustantivos contables. También puede significar «separados» en contextos formales («they went their several ways»).

「several」は少ない数を示し、通常2、3より多いが多くはない（おおよそ3〜7）。「some」より正確ですが、具体的な数字ほど特定的ではありません。「several」は可算名詞と使います。正式な文脈では「それぞれの」という意味もあります（「they went their several ways」）。

'Several'은 둘이나 셋보다 많지만 아주 많지는 않은 소수(대략 3~7)를 나타냅니다. 'Some'보다 구체적이지만 정확한 숫자보다는 덜 구체적입니다. 'Several'은 가산 명사와 함께 사용됩니다. 격식체에서는 '각각의'라는 의미로도 쓰입니다('they went their several ways').

Examples

I've visited London several times.
我去过伦敦好几次。
He visitado Londres varias veces.
ロンドンには何度か行ったことがあります。
런던에 몇 번 가본 적이 있습니다.
Several people complained about the noise.
好几个人抱怨噪音。
Varias personas se quejaron del ruido.
何人かの人が騒音について苦情を言いました。
몇몇 사람들이 소음에 대해 불평했습니다.
It took me several hours to finish the report.
我花了好几个小时才完成报告。
Me llevó varias horas terminar el informe.
レポートを完成させるのに数時間かかりました。
보고서를 완성하는 데 몇 시간이 걸렸습니다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: general

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Anglo-Norman French 'several', from Medieval Latin 'separalis', from Latin 'separ' (separate). The original meaning was 'individual, distinct, separate' — the sense of 'more than two but not many' is a later English development.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal