multitude
noun
mul·ti·tude ˈməl-tə-ˌtüd 
-ˌtyüd
1
: the state of being many
… the mind falters, confused by the multitude and yet the harmony of the detail …
Theodore Dreiser
Theodore Dreiser2
: a great number : host
a multitude of choices
a multitude of complaints
3
: a great number of people
A multitude gathered to hear the governor's speech.
4
: populace, public
a candidate trying to appeal to the multitude
Synonyms
- army
- bike [chiefly Scottish]
- cram
- crowd
- crush
- drove
- flock
- herd
- horde
- host
- legion
- mass
- mob
- press
- rout
- scrum
- swarm
- throng
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a candidate trying to appeal to the multitude awed by the multitude of stars in the night sky
Recent Examples on the Web Despite the multitude of items amassed here, the overall coloring is muted, to tans, greens, reds and browns. John Wilmerding, WSJ, 2 Sep. 2022 Portland track fans were spoiled by the multitude of pro runners available for local meets like the Portland Track Festival and Stumptown Twilight. Will Lee For The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, 2 Aug. 2022 Every large industry, including incumbent financial services and the multitude of streaming content providers so enjoyed worldwide, also consume large amounts of electricity and have done so for decades. Sean Stein Smith, Forbes, 5 June 2022 Not enough, Bullough seems to suggest, given the multitude of tricks available for obscuring transactions. Patrick Radden Keefe, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2022 The multitude was marched under guard through a barbed wire enclosure leading into Babi Yar. Jeffrey Veidlinger, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Mar. 2022 For aviation to become significantly greener, a multitude of players will need to invent new fuels, materials and possibly business models. Marie-caroline Chauvet, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2022 But there are a multitude of dryer brushes to choose from, each with its own unique features. Jessica Teich, Good Housekeeping, 24 June 2022 Panel member, Representative Adam Schiff (D-MA) referred to federal judge David Carter, quoting him in that Trump most likely is in violation of a multitude of federal laws, which includes the conspiracy to defraud the United States of America. Rayna Reid Rayford, Essence, 23 June 2022 See More
John Wilmerding, WSJ, 2 Sep. 2022 Portland track fans were spoiled by the multitude of pro runners available for local meets like the Portland Track Festival and Stumptown Twilight. Will Lee For The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, 2 Aug. 2022 Every large industry, including incumbent financial services and the multitude of streaming content providers so enjoyed worldwide, also consume large amounts of electricity and have done so for decades. Sean Stein Smith, Forbes, 5 June 2022 Not enough, Bullough seems to suggest, given the multitude of tricks available for obscuring transactions. Patrick Radden Keefe, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2022 The multitude was marched under guard through a barbed wire enclosure leading into Babi Yar. Jeffrey Veidlinger, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Mar. 2022 For aviation to become significantly greener, a multitude of players will need to invent new fuels, materials and possibly business models. Marie-caroline Chauvet, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2022 But there are a multitude of dryer brushes to choose from, each with its own unique features. Jessica Teich, Good Housekeeping, 24 June 2022 Panel member, Representative Adam Schiff (D-MA) referred to federal judge David Carter, quoting him in that Trump most likely is in violation of a multitude of federal laws, which includes the conspiracy to defraud the United States of America. Rayna Reid Rayford, Essence, 23 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin multitudin-, multitudo, from multus much — more at meliorate
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing multitude
Kids Definition
multitude
noun
mul·ti·tude ˈməl-tə-ˌtüd
-ˌtyüd
: a great number of people or things
a multitude of choices
multitude
noun
1
as in throng
a great number of persons or creatures massed together awed by the multitude of stars in the night sky Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- throng
- crowd
- flock
- swarm
- horde
- legion
- masses
- army
- mob
- millions
- host
- mass
- herd
- rout
- cram
- crush
- drove
- bike
- press
- rabble
- gaggle
- scrum
- pile
- heap
- mountain
- rabblement
- riffraff
- jam
- logjam
2
as in people
the body of the community as contrasted with the elite the nation's idle rich frolicked while the multitude starved Synonyms & Similar Words
- people
- crowd
- populace
- public
- millions
- mass
- mob
- commoners
- plebeians
- commons
- herd
- plebs
- hoi polloi
- cattle
- rabble
- unwashed
- rabblement
- rank and file
- riffraff
- rout
- proletariat
- ragtag and bobtail
- tagrag and bobtail
- scum
- bourgeoisie
- trash
- middle class
- tag, rag, and bobtail
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- choice
- elite
- flower
- pride
- elect
- upper crust
- aristocracy
- fat
- pick
- cream
- quality
- pink
- best
- society
- A-list
- nobility
- corps d'elite
- gentry
- royalty
- patriciate
- gentlefolk
- gentility
- gentlefolks
- peerage
- haute monde
- at one's beck and call
- at one's door
- at one's elbow
- at one's feet
- at one's fingertips
- at one's leisure
- at one's own peril
- at one's own risk
- at one's peril
- at one's wit's end
- at one's wits' end
- at ouster
- at peace
- at play
- at present
- at random
- at regular intervals
- at rest
- at retail
- at risk
- at school
- at sea
- at short notice
- at sign
- at sixes and sevens