sev·er·al
ˈse-və-rəl 
ˈsev-rəl
1
a
: separate or distinct from one another
federal union of the several states
c
: being separate and distinctive : respective
specialists in their several fields
2
a
: more than one
several pleas
b
: more than two but fewer than many
moved several inches
c
chiefly dialectal
: being a great many
plural in construction
: an indefinite number more than two and fewer than many
several of the guests
Examples of several in a Sentence
Adjective
It took several days for the package to arrive.
He arrived several hours ago.
We added several more names to the list.
The meat can be cooked several ways.
There are several similar stores at the mall.
a federal union of the several states
Recent Examples on the Web
Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 17 Jan. 2025
But the detectives never learned — until Wallace told them — that Wallace worked with several of the women at a Taco Bell on Sharon Amity Road; that one of his victims was the roommate of his then-girlfriend, while another, Brandi Henderson, lived with one of his best friends.
—Michael Gordon, Charlotte Observer, 17 Jan. 2025
Many guests flew to Auburn from Los Angeles; several had evacuated their homes because of the wildfires.
—Sadiba Hasan, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025
Capital One’s support account on X also has been flooded with complaints, several using explicit language, from people not being able to pay bills or access money.
—Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for several 
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Adjective
Some of the bills filed in the last week, including several by Republicans, would eliminate the public benefit charge without explaining exactly how that could be done.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 17 Jan. 2025
But the detectives never learned — until Wallace told them — that Wallace worked with several of the women at a Taco Bell on Sharon Amity Road; that one of his victims was the roommate of his then-girlfriend, while another, Brandi Henderson, lived with one of his best friends.
—Michael Gordon, Charlotte Observer, 17 Jan. 2025
Many guests flew to Auburn from Los Angeles; several had evacuated their homes because of the wildfires.
—Sadiba Hasan, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025
Capital One’s support account on X also has been flooded with complaints, several using explicit language, from people not being able to pay bills or access money.
—Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for several
Articles Related to several
Dictionary Entries Near several
Cite this Entry
“Several.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/several. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
several
1 of 2 adjective
sev·er·al
ˈsev-(ə-)rəl
1
: separate or distinct from one another : different
federal union of the several states
2
: being more than two but not very many
several persons
severally
adverb
-ē
several
2 of 2 pronoun
: a small number : more than two but not very many
several of the guests
Legal Definition
several
adjective
sev·er·al
1
a
: of or relating separately to each individual involved
specifically
: enforceable separately against each party
each promisor owed a several duty
see also several liability at liability sense 2b, several obligation at obligation
b
: being separately or individually responsible, liable, or obligated
a several obligor
compare joint
2
: separate or distinct from one another
to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the several States—U.S. Constitution art. I
U.S. Constitution art. I
severally
adverb
Etymology
Adjective
Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin separalis, from Latin separ separate
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