many a large number of people or things – used in everyday English in questions and negative sentences, and after ‘too’ and ‘so’. In formal or written English, you can also use it in other sentences:
There weren’t many people at the meeting.
Did you get many birthday presents?
Many people voted against the proposal.
a lot many. A lot is less formal than many and is the usual phrase to use in everyday English:
A lot of tourists visit Venice in the summer.
The club has a lot more members now.
dozens/hundreds/thousands/millions many – used when you cannot be exact but the number is two dozen or more, two hundred or more etc:
At least five people died and dozens more were injured in a gas explosion.
They’ve wasted thousands of pounds on the project.
a large number of written a lot of a particular type of person or thing:
China plans to build a large number of nuclear power plants.
numerous formal many – used especially when saying that something has happened many times:
We’ve contacted him on numerous occasions.
Numerous studies have shown a link between smoking and lung cancer.
countless/innumerable /ɪˈnjuːmərəbəl $ ɪˈnuː-/ [only before noun] many – used when it is impossible to count or imagine how many. Innumerable is more formal than countless:
He spent countless hours in the gym.
They had been given innumerable warnings.
a host of many – used especially when something seems surprising or impressive:
Age is the biggest risk factor in a host of diseases.
People leave jobs for a whole host of reasons.
a raft of many – used especially when talking about ideas, suggestions, changes in business or politics:
The report made a raft of recommendations.
The new government is planning a whole raft of changes.
quite a few especially spoken a fairly large number of people or things:
We’ve had quite a few problems with the software.
I’ve met quite a few of his friends.
lots informal many:
I’ve invited lots of people.
‘How many cats has she got?’ ‘Lots!’
tons/loads informal many – a very informal use:
I’ve got tons of books.
Have a strawberry – there are loads here.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲