billions

word · lemma: billion

/ˈbɪɫjənz/
BIL-yuhnz
/bˈɪliənz/
BIL-yuhnz

Definition

An extremely large number, meaning thousands of millions; the plural form of 'billion'. Used to describe quantities that are 1,000,000,000 or more.

Usage & Nuances

Almost always used in the plural to emphasize extremely large numbers. In US English, 'billion' means 1,000,000,000; in some European countries, 'billion' might mean 1,000,000,000,000, but modern usage aligns with US. Common in business, science, and news. Often paired with 'dollars', 'people', 'stars', etc.

Example Sentences

Ants live in colonies with billions of members.

basic

There are billions of stars in the galaxy.

basic

The company made billions of dollars last year.

basic

Streaming services attract billions of viewers worldwide.

natural

Social media generates billions of posts every day.

natural

Scientists estimate that Earth is home to billions of insects.

natural