the more the merrier

English dictionary entry

Meanings

proverb
  1. Something is more fun with more people.
  2. A greater amount of something is better.
  3. Used to welcome another person into a group activity or encourage them to join in, suggesting that they will be easily accommodated.

Pronunciation

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-the more the merrier.wav

Word forms

the more the merrier

Etymology

First recorded in the 14th-century poem Pearl, line 850. The phrase contains an instance of the comparative correlative use of the.

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