thousands

word · lemma: thousand

/ˈθaʊzəndz/
THOW-zuhnz
/θˈaʊzəndz/
THOW-zuhnz

Definition

The plural form of 'thousand', meaning many groups of 1,000. It can also be used more loosely to mean a very large number of people or things.

Usage & Nuances

Use it after numbers like 'two thousand' only when 'thousand' is a counting unit, not 'thousands'. We say 'two thousand people' but 'thousands of people'. 'Thousands of' is a very common pattern for an indefinite large number.

Example Sentences

Thousands showed up for the concert, even in the rain.

natural

The video got thousands of views in one day.

basic

There were thousands of stars in the sky.

basic

Thousands of people live in this town.

basic

We’ve told you thousands of times to lock the door.

natural

There are thousands of ways to solve this problem.

natural