amount

[ uh-mount ]

See synonyms for: amount amounted amounts 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)

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.

Origin of amount

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. 2023

How to use amount in a sentence

Not long ago, however, these outré components would have amounted to an interesting yet niche rap career.
Future Makes Us Rethink Everything We Thought We Knew About Rap Artists | Luke Hopping | December 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Hickenlooper had granted Dunlap a temporary reprieve in 2013, which amounted to a half-measure that made nobody happy.
Who Gets to Decide Who Lives or Dies? | Cliff Schecter | September 5, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
When she reached Hail, the Rashids were suspicious and put her under what amounted to house arrest in the royal complex.
Gertrude of Arabia, the Woman Who Invented Iraq | Clive Irving | June 17, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Contact lending was the only option, and it amounted to large scale (and sanctioned) wealth theft.
How We Built the Ghettos | Jamelle Bouie | March 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The Atty. Gen. has been ordered to pay the Guardians legal costs, which the paper said amounted to some £96,000.
Prince Charles's 'Meddling' Lobbying Letters MUST be Released, Appeal Court Rules | Tom Sykes | March 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

To Americans Mrs. Wright is interesting by reason of her patriotism, which amounted to a passion.
Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D. | Clara Erskine Clement
The total fresh troops amounted to about 500 men of the 73rd Native Regiment and Spanish cazadores.
The Philippine Islands | John Foreman
He bowed a trifle stiffly, and was surprised to have his bow returned with a graciousness that amounted almost to cordiality.
St. Martin's Summer | Rafael Sabatini
I asked him if that amounted to one shell per yard and he said the whole length of the trench was less than 100 yards.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I | Ian Hamilton
In the "good old coaching days" the turnpike tolls paid on a coach running daily from here to London amounted to £1,428 per year.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham | Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell

British Dictionary definitions for amount

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

Origin of 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

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