amount

[uh-mount]

noun

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

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

3. quantity; measure.

   a great amount of resistance.

4. the full effect, value, or significance.

verb (used without object)

1. to total; add (usually followed byto ).

   The repair bill amounts to $300.

2. to reach, extend, or be equal in number, quantity, effect, etc.; be equivalent (usually followed byto ).

   It is stated differently but amounts to the same thing.

3. to develop into; become (usually followed byto ).

   With his intelligence, he should amount to something when he grows up.

amount

/ əˈmaʊnt /

noun

1. extent; quantity; supply

2. the total of two or more quantities; sum

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

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

verb

1. to be equal or add up in effect, meaning, or quantity

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

Confusables 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 ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of amount¹

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; a- ⁵, mount ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of amount¹

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

Example Sentences

Alphabet has “laid the groundwork for an immense amount of value creation from an AI standpoint,” Musk said.

Read more on MarketWatch

The reality is that many people are in this man’s situation — 43 million Americans have federal student-loan debt — and it’s likely that whoever you date next will also have some amount of debt.

Read more on MarketWatch

"Chimpanzees consume a similar amount of alcohol to what we might if we ate fermented food daily," Maro said.

Read more on Science Daily

Although the amount of data for this phase is limited, researchers found a clear pattern.

Read more on Science Daily

Each question is worth a set amount of points, with harder ones worth more, and whoever gets the most points wins.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• budget 
• cost 
• damage 
• expense 
• extent 
• lot 
• outlay 
• output 
• price tag 
• product 
• sum