Part of Speech

Adjective

Pronunciation

/ɪˈnjuːmərəbl/ or /ɪˈnʊmərəbl/

Definitions

• Too many to be counted; countless.
• Referring to a quantity so large that it cannot be precisely enumerated.
• Often used to emphasize the vastness or overwhelming number of something.

Usage Examples

• There are innumerable stars in the sky.
• The city offers innumerable opportunities for those willing to seek them.
• He has encountered innumerable challenges in his career.

Etymology

From the Latin "innumerabilis," meaning "that cannot be counted," formed from "in-" meaning "not" and "numerabilis" meaning "countable," from "numerare" meaning "to count." The word has been used in English since the late 16th century.

Synonyms

• Countless
• Numerous
• Myriad
• Infinite
• Uncountable
• Legion

Antonyms

• Finite
• Limited
• Countable
• Definite

Translations

Regional Pronunciation Variations

The pronunciation of "innumerable" typically remains consistent across English-speaking regions, though slight variations in stress may occur. In some dialects, the stress may shift slightly between the first and second syllable, but the primary stress remains on the second syllable: /ɪˈnjuːmərəbl/.

Historical Usage

Innumerable has been used in English since the 16th century, predominantly in literary and academic contexts, where it described a vast or infinite number of things. Over time, the word became more commonly used in everyday language to refer to any large, seemingly uncountable quantity. It remains a common term in both formal and informal discourse.

Cultural Nuances

Innumerable is often used to evoke the sense of awe or overwhelm associated with a large quantity. It can also imply that the number is so large that attempting to count it would be futile, reflecting both literal and figurative uses of scale and size. The term is frequently used in discussions about the vastness of nature, the universe, or human experience.

More Information

The word "innumerable" is a formal term used to describe things that are so numerous that they cannot be counted. While the word often refers to a literal count, it is also commonly used in a figurative sense to describe abstract concepts such as ideas, possibilities, or experiences that seem too numerous to measure. Innumerable is often associated with a sense of awe or amazement, as it implies an amount so vast that it defies human attempts to quantify it.