amount

[ uh-mount ]
/ əˈmaʊnt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR amount ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.

verb (used without object)

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Origin of amount

1250–1300; Middle English amounten, amunten < Anglo-French amo(u)nter, amunter, Old French amonter literally, to go up, ascend, probably a- a-5 + monter (see mount1); E noun use of v. from early 18th cent.

usage 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 usage note at the current entry)

Words nearby amount

amortizement, amory, amos, amosite, amoss' sign, amount, amount at risk, amount of substance, amount to, amount to the same thing, amour
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to amount to

total, equal

British Dictionary definitions for amount to

amount
/ (əˈmaʊnt) /

noun

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

verb

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

Word Origin for amount

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

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]

2

Be equivalent to, as in Twenty persons won't amount to a good turnout. [Late 1300s] Also see amount to the same thing.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.