“Which Number” vs. “What Number”: What’s the Difference?

A line illustration of two people with their mouth open, and a giant question mark between them.

The difference between “which number” and “what number”

  • "Which number" is used to ask about a specific number, while "what number" is used to ask about any number in general.
  • "Which number" implies that there are multiple possible options, whereas "what number" does not have this connotation.
  • "Which number" requires some previous context or information, whereas "what number" does not necessarily need any prior knowledge.
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What is the definition of “which number” and “what number”?

Which number
  • "Which number" refers to a specific number in a set or sequence.
  • It is used to inquire about a particular number that has already been identified or implied.
  • This phrase is often used when there are multiple possible options to choose from.
What number
  • "What number" is more general and refers to any number in a set or sequence.
  • It is used to ask for a number in a general sense, without referring to a specific option or context.
  • This phrase is often used when the speaker is unsure of what number is being referred to.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“What number” is the more popular variant on the web.
Which number
4,520,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. Which number do you think is the winning lottery number?
  2. Can you tell me which number in this sequence is the odd one out?
  3. I'm not sure which number to choose for my password.
More popular
What number
9,490,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. What number did you say is your favorite?
  2. What number do I need to call for customer service?
  3. I can't remember what number I picked for my luggage combination.
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