amount
[uh-mount]
- the sum total of two or more quantities or sums; aggregate.
- the sum of the principal and interest of a loan.
- quantity; measure: a great amount of resistance.
- the full effect, value, or significance.
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- to total; add (usually followed by to): The repair bill amounts to $300.
- 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.
- to develop into; become (usually followed by to): With his intelligence, he should amount to something when he grows up.
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Origin of amount
Usage note
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 ).
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
amount
- extent; quantity; supply
- the total of two or more quantities; sum
- the full value, effect, or significance of something
- a principal sum plus the interest on it, as in a loan
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- (intr usually foll by to) to be equal or add up in effect, meaning, or quantity
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Word Origin
C13: from Old French amonter to go up, from amont upwards, from a to + mont mountain (from Latin mōns)
usage
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
Word Origin and History for amount to
amount
v.
late 13c., "to go up, rise, mount (a horse)," from Old French amonter, from a mont "upward," literally "to the mountain," from Latin ad- "to" (see ad-) + montem (nominative mons) "mountain" (see mount (n.)). Meaning "to rise in number or quality (so as to reach)" is from c.1300. Related: Amounted; amounting.
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amount
n.
1710, from amount (v.).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with amount to
amount to
1
Add up, develop into, as in Even though she's careful with her money, her savings don't amount to much, or All parents hope that their children will amount to something. [Mid-1500s]
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2
Be equivalent to, as in Twenty persons won't amount to a good turnout. [Late 1300s] Also see amount to the same thing.
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.