how many
pronEtymology Inherited from Old English hū maniġ.
1
unspecified number
- We've lost quite a few; I don't know exactly how many.
- And I saw how many were destroying the simplicity, and betraying the truth.1800, George Fox, A Journal Or Historical Account of the Life, Travels, Sufferings, Christian Exsperiences, and Labour of Love, in the work of the Ministry:
3 more examples
- Biff then stated, “Take how many you want, they're $700 a piece."2004, John P. Sutton, Thin White Lines, page 233:
- I'll phone later and confirm how many I want.2012, Charlie Gardner, Rotten Timbers, →ISBN, page 143:
- The sticks are now going around, and take how many you want.2016, L. James Dempsey, Blackfoot War Art: Pictographs of the Reservation Period, 1880–2000:
2
what number
- How many of you have full-time jobs?
- I've invited three hundred people to my wedding. — You've invited how many?
4 more examples
- The message itself is neither difficult nor simple, but how many will realize this?2000, Glen C. Cutlip, How to Overcome Death: The Final Victory, →ISBN, page 61:
- You know how many are in one group and how many are in another group.2005, David B. Spangler, Math for Real Kids, →ISBN:
- How many will say I want to be a good example for my children?2010, Michael A. Curtis, Notes from My Journey, →ISBN, page 39:
- How many people Earth can support depends in part on how many will wear cotton and how many polyester; on how many will eat meat and how many bean sprouts; on how many will want parks and how many will want parking lots.2011, Ian Angus, Simon Butler, Too Many People?, →ISBN:
- Derived terms
- who-knows-how-many