mount

¹ American  

[mount] / maʊnt /

verb (used with object)

• mounts,
  present (3rd person singular)
• mounted,
  past participle,  past
• mounting
  present participle

1. to go up; climb; ascend.

   to mount stairs.

   Synonyms:

   scale

   Antonyms:

   descend

2. to get up on (a platform, a horse, etc.).

3. to set or place at an elevation.

   to mount a house on stilts.

4. to furnish with a horse or other animal for riding.

5. to set or place (a person) on horseback.

6. to organize, as an army.

7. to prepare and launch, as an attack or a campaign.

8. to raise or put into position for use, as a gun.

9. (of a fortress or warship) to have or carry (guns) in position for use.

10. to go or put on guard, as a sentry or watch.

11. to attach to or fix on or in a support, backing, setting, etc..

    to mount a photograph; to mount a diamond in a ring.

12. to arrange for display.

    to mount a museum exhibit.

13. to provide (a play, musical comedy, opera, etc.) with scenery, costumes, and other equipment for production.

14. to prepare (an animal body or skeleton) as a specimen.

15. (of a male animal) to climb upon (a female) for copulation.

16. Microscopy.

    1. to prepare (a slide) for microscopic investigation.

    2. to prepare (a sample) for examination by a microscope, as by placing it on a slide.

---

verb (used without object)

• mounts,
  present (3rd person singular)
• mounted,
  past participle,  past
• mounting
  present participle

1. to increase in amount or intensity (often followed byup ).

   The cost of all those small purchases mounts up.

2. to get up on the back of a horse or other animal for riding.

3. to rise or go to a higher position, level, degree, etc.; ascend.

   Synonyms:

   soar

4. to get up on something, as a platform.

noun

1. the act or a manner of mounting.

2. a horse, other animal, or sometimes a vehicle, as a bicycle, used, provided, or available for riding.

   Synonyms:

   palfrey, charger, steed, horse

3. an act or occasion of riding a horse, especially in a race.

4. a support, backing, setting, or the like, on or in which something is, or is to be, mounted or fixed.

5. an ornamental metal piece applied to a piece of wooden furniture.

6. Microscopy. a prepared slide.

7. a distinctive metal feature on a sheath or scabbard, as a locket or chape.

8. Philately. hinge.

9. Printing. a wooden or metal block to which a plate is secured for printing.

mount ² American  

[mount] / maʊnt /

noun

Chiefly Literary.

1. a mountain: often used as part of a placename.

---

mount ¹ British  

/ maʊnt /

verb

1. to go up (a hill, stairs, etc); climb

2. to get up on (a horse, a platform, etc)

3. io increase; accumulate

   excitement mounted

4. (tr) to fix onto a backing, setting, or support

   to mount a photograph

   to mount a slide

5. (tr) to provide with a horse for riding, or to place on a horse

6. (of male animals) to climb onto (a female animal) for copulation

7. (tr) to prepare (a play, musical comedy, etc) for production

8. (tr) to plan and organize (a compaign, an exhibition, etc)

9. (tr) military to prepare or launch (an operation)

   the Allies mounted an offensive

10. (tr) to prepare (a skeleton, dead animal, etc) for exhibition as a specimen

11. (tr) to place or carry (weapons) in such a position that they can be fired

12. See guard

---

noun

1. a backing, setting, or support onto which something is fixed

2. the act or manner of mounting

3. a horse for riding

4. a slide used in microscopy

5. philately

   1. a small transparent pocket in an album for a postage stamp

   2. another word for hinge

mount ² British  

/ maʊnt /

noun

1. a mountain or hill: used in literature and (when cap.) in proper names

   Mount Everest

2. (in palmistry) any of the seven cushions of flesh on the palm of the hand

---

Synonym Usage

See climb.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• mounter
  noun
• mountable
  adjective
• mountless
  adjective
• unmountable
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• mounting
  present
• mounted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• mount
  simple
• mounts
  simple
• have mounted
  perfect
• has mounted
  perfect
• am mounting
  progressive
• are mounting
  progressive
• is mounting
  progressive
• have been mounting
  perfect progressive
• has been mounting
  perfect progressive

Past

• mounted
  simple
• had mounted
  perfect
• was mounting
  progressive
• were mounting
  progressive
• had been mounting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will mount
  simple
• will have mounted
  perfect
• will be mounting
  progressive
• will have been mounting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of mount¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English mounten, from Old French munter, monter, Vulgar Latin (unattested) montāre, derivative of Latin mont- (stem of mōns ) mount ²

Origin of mount²

First recorded before 900; Middle English mount(e), mont, munt(e), Old English munt “mount, hill, mountain,” from Latin mont- (inflectional stem of mōns ) “mountain, hill”

Explanation

To mount is to climb up something, like a ladder, or get on the back of something, like a horse. You can also mount something on another object, like a camera on a tripod or a sticker on a notebook. The word mountain can help you remember that one way to mount is to climb. You can mount a mountain or a flight of stairs. You can also mount a pony by getting on its back or a bicycle by climbing onto it. The oldest meaning of mount is, in fact, "mountain," from the Old French word mont, which has its root in the Latin montem for “mountain."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mount mounts mounted mounting

But as excitement over his campaign began to mount among progressives on a national level, Ryan said, El-Sayed’s public posture swung to a middle ground.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026

Schwimmer said the completed mount does more than give museum visitors a sense of the animal's intimidating size.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 5, 2026

But whether hard-hit chip names can mount a sustainable comeback remains to be seen.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 31, 2026

During the defense of the U.S. base at Corregidor, in the bay near Manila, troops under Rose’s command removed an artillery piece from its mount and turned it into a roving gun.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026

Each man stood to attention by his mount, holding his cap ceremonially against his chest.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

Her disclosure came as speculation mounts over her political future.

From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026

The strategy had limited success early in the conflict, but it might show better results as the toll on Iran mounts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

And the pressure mounts for Syd to decide if she’ll jump ship to pursue another opportunity.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026

Then she mounts a free show in Central Park, something he can’t buy out from under her, that breaks attendance records.

From Salon ● May 29, 2026

Billy Lee held Washington’s horse on the battlefield, and when one of Washington’s mounts fell in the heat of battle at Monmouth, New Jersey, Billy Lee was there with another.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

Sanford very briefly mounted a 2020 primary challenge to Trump as well.

From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026

Her business has rented couches, artwork and other furniture to “Forever” and a vintage golf club mounted like a trophy to “The Hawk.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026

Big name sponsors mounted fan events, including a meet-and-greet at a shopping mall in Metro Manila's business district of Makati.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026

Public frustration has mounted following a series of exam irregularities, including the leak of a medical entrance examination paper and problems with an online marking system for high school students.

From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026

Emma’s spirits were mounted quite up to happiness; every thing wore a different air; James and his horses seemed not half so sluggish as before.

From "Emma" by Jane Austen

Last month, Magyar offered the nomination as president to chess legend Judit Polgar, but she declined after the prime minister faced mounting outrage for not consulting the public as promised.

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

ICE plans to equip officers nationwide with body-worn cameras by the end of September, following mounting scrutiny over fatal encounters involving federal immigration officers.

From Salon ● Aug. 8, 2026

But the Andromeda note highlights that losses are mounting.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026

The lawsuit adds to mounting legal scrutiny of Amazon’s labor and logistics practices.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026

The cycle of mounting and executing and moving on to the next project has skidded to a halt, and he cannot say why.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

Related Words

• build
• escalate
• expand
• heighten
• intensify
• rise