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
The twisted tale involves a cadre of rappers and hangers-on, shootings in separate states, two deaths and various acts of betrayal. — Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 As prosecutors made their closing arguments, Charlie Kirk’s parents, Rob and Kathryn Kirk, and his widow, Erika Kirk, were visibly emotional and appeared to comfort each other at various times. — Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026 The other two, one in Miami and another in Tallahassee, were both filed by various voting rights groups on the same day DeSantis signed the bill — April 1. — Liv Caputo Herald, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026 On December 2, 1990, Akiyama lifted off with Soviet-era cosmonauts Viktor Afanasyev and Musa Manarov atop a Soyuz U2 rocket that had been adorned with the Japanese flag and ads from various Japanese companies, including Sony. — Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 2 Sep. 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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Cite this Entry

“Various.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/various. Accessed 3 Sep. 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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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