manyfold
Definition
Adverb:
- In a manner that increases by many times: "manyfold" means to a degree that is multiplied many times over; in a way that is several or numerous times greater.
Adjective (rare):
- Having many folds or layers: "manyfold" can describe something that is composed of many parts or aspects, though this usage is archaic.
Usage Examples
Adverb:
- The company's profits increased manyfold after the new product launch. (Profits grew by a large multiple.)
- Her knowledge of the subject expanded manyfold through years of study. (Her understanding multiplied greatly.)
Adjective:
- The ancient text spoke of a manyfold universe, filled with countless dimensions. (A universe with many layers or aspects.)
Advanced Usage
"manyfold increase": a common collocation meaning a rise by a large factor.
- The population of the city has seen a manyfold increase since 1950. (The population has multiplied several times.)
"manyfold complexity": used to describe something that is intricate or has numerous components.
- The problem's manyfold complexity required a team of experts. (The issue had many layers of difficulty.)
Variants and Related Words
Many (adj, pron): a large number of.
- He has many friends in the city. (A large number of friends.)
Fold (n, v): a part or layer; to bend or double over.
- She folded the paper into a neat square. (She bent it to form a crease.)
Synonyms
- Several times over: meaning multiplied by a large number.
- Multiple: having or involving many parts or occurrences.
Phrasal Verbs
Related Idioms
By manyfold: used to emphasize a large degree of increase.
- The benefits of the new policy outweigh its costs by manyfold. (The advantages are many times greater.)
A manyfold return: a return on investment that is multiplied many times.
- The investment yielded a manyfold return for the early backers. (They received many times their original investment.)