amount

[ uh-mount ]
See synonyms for: amountamountedamounts on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. the sum total of two or more quantities or sums; aggregate.

  2. the sum of the principal and interest of a loan.

  1. quantity; measure: a great amount of resistance.

  2. the full effect, value, or significance.

verb (used without object)
  1. to total; add (usually followed by to): The repair bill amounts to $300.

  2. to reach, extend, or be equal in number, quantity, effect, etc.; be equivalent (usually followed by to): It is stated differently but amounts to the same thing.

  1. to develop into; become (usually followed by to): With his intelligence, he should amount to something when he grows up.

Origin of amount

1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English verb amounten, amunten, from Anglo-French amo(u)nter, amunter, Old French amonter literally, “to go up, ascend,” probably a- + monter; noun use of verb from early 18th century; see a-5, mount1

confusables note For amount

The traditional distinction between amount and number is that amount is used with mass or uncountable nouns ( the amount of paperwork; the amount of energy ) and number with countable nouns ( a number of songs; a number of days ). Although objected to, the use of amount instead of number with countable nouns occurs in both speech and writing, especially when the noun can be considered as a unit or group ( the amount of people present; the amount of weapons ) or when it refers to money ( the amount of dollars paid; the amount of pennies in the till ).

Words that may be confused with amount

  • amount , number (see confusables note at the current entry)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use amount in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for amount

amount

/ (əˈmaʊnt) /


noun
  1. extent; quantity; supply

  2. the total of two or more quantities; sum

  1. the full value, effect, or significance of something

  2. a principal sum plus the interest on it, as in a loan

verb
  1. (intr usually foll by to) to be equal or add up in effect, meaning, or quantity

Origin of amount

1
C13: from Old French amonter to go up, from amont upwards, from a to + mont mountain (from Latin mōns)

usage For amount

The use of a plural noun after amount of ( an amount of bananas; the amount of refugees) should be avoided: a quantity of bananas; the number of refugees

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012