billions
Advanced (C1/C2)
IPA: /ˈbɪljənz/
KK: /ˈbɪljənz/
adjective
Definition
A very large number, often used to describe amounts that are in the thousands of millions.
Example
The company made billions of dollars in profit last year.
Conversation
Have you seen how many people watched that movie last weekend?
I know, right? It's like billions of viewers tuned in!
I wonder if it will break the record for the highest grossing film.
It might! Movies that attract billions tend to set the bar pretty high.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
numerous
countless
myriad
Antonyms
few
limited
scarce
noun
Definition
A billion is the number equal to one thousand million, or 1,000,000,000.
Example
The population of the country reached billions in the last decade.
Conversation
Did you hear that the company made billions in profit last year?
Yeah, that's incredible! It's amazing how fast they grew.
I can't even imagine having billions of dollars to work with.
Root Explanation
Billions → The word is derived from 'billion' (from French 'billion', meaning a million million, or 10^12) with the suffix '-s' indicating plural. Thus, 'billions' refers to multiple instances of a billion.
Memory Tip
Think of 'billion' as a term for a million million, and when you add '-s', it simply means there are many of those large numbers.
Visually Confused Words
millions
pillion
million
bullion
bilious