various

1 of 3

adjective

var·​i·​ous ˈver-ē-əs How to pronounce various (audio)
Synonyms of various
1
: of an indefinite number greater than one
stop at various towns
2
: individual, separate
rate increases granted in the various states
3
a
: of differing kinds : multifarious
b
: dissimilar in nature or form : unlike
4
: varicolored
birds of various plumage
5
: having a number of different aspects or characteristics
a various place
6
archaic : variable, inconstant
variousness noun

various

2 of 3

pronoun

plural in construction
: an indefinite number of separate individuals greater than one
have read various of her essays

variousness

3 of 3

noun

var·​i·​ous·​ness
plural -es
: the quality or state of being various
the infinite variousness of the world—John Buchan

Synonyms of various

Relevance

Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Choose the Right Synonym for various

different, diverse, divergent, disparate, various mean unlike in kind or character.

different may imply little more than separateness but it may also imply contrast or contrariness.

different foods

diverse implies both distinctness and marked contrast.

such diverse interests as dancing and football

divergent implies movement away from each other and unlikelihood of ultimate meeting or reconciliation.

went on to pursue divergent careers

disparate emphasizes incongruity or incompatibility.

disparate notions of freedom

various stresses the number of sorts or kinds.

tried various methods

Examples of various in a Sentence

Adjective He has lived in places as various as New York and Beijing. for their various and bizarrely shaped plumage, males of the bird of paradise species have few rivals
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
At various town hall events, Sand has cited biblical passages that can be interpreted as saying that life begins at breath instead of conception. — Gabrielle M. Etzel, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2026 Guilfoyle, one person familiar with the situation added, has been making calls to various figures in Trumpworld for help amid the drama. — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2026 This chapter is accompanied by somewhat twee images of an owl doll, a bottle of designer perfume, a high heel, and a golden microphone positioned against various ancient Greek ruins, including the Parthenon and the Monument of the Eponymous Heroes. — Stephanie Wambugu, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026 At the same time, politicians and business leaders still employed yakuza for various tasks in mid-century Japan. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for various

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Latin varius "having contrasting colors, of different kinds, changeable" (of uncertain origin) + Middle English -ous, -os -ous

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 6

Pronoun

1877, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of various was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing various

Rhymes for various

See All Rhymes for various

Browse Nearby Words

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various
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Cite this Entry

“Various.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/various. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

various

adjective
var·​i·​ous
ˈver-ē-əs, 
ˈvar-
1
: of different kinds
2
: different one from another : unlike
animals as various as cat and mouse
3
: having many different characteristics
spring is a various season
4
: made up of an indefinite number greater than one
stopped at various places along the way
variously adverb
variousness noun
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