how many? Definition

many
adj more (comparative), most (superlative)

1. Consisting of a large number; numerous.

Example: Many teenagers smoke
Example: had to stop a good many times to rest
Thesaurus: abundant, countless, numerous, sundry, plentiful, divers, multifarious, multitudinous, galore, umpteen (slang); Antonym: few, meagre, scanty.
Form: a great many (sometimes)
Form: a good many
2. The majority or the crowd; ordinary people, not nobility or royalty.

Form: the many

pronoun

1. A great number (of people or things). See also more, most.

Example: The sweets were so rich that I couldn't eat many

Idiom: as many

The same number (of something).
Example: She hasn't as many friends as you
Example: I don't want as many

Idiom: have one too many

colloq
To drink to excess.

Idiom: how many?

How great a number?
Example: How many people are coming?

Idiom: many a (many an, many another)

as or being one of a number of (a specified thing).
Example: many a man
Example: spent many a happy hour there

Idiom: many's the time

colloq
On a great many occasions.
Example: Many's the time I found her crying

Idiom: too many

Too great a number (of something); more than required.
Example: There are too many people in here

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon manig.