count

[ kount ]

/ kaʊnt /

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See synonyms for: count / counted / counter / counting on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to check over (the separate units or groups of a collection) one by one to determine the total number; add up; enumerate: He counted his tickets and found he had ten.

to reckon up; calculate; compute.

to list or name the numerals up to: Close your eyes and count ten.

to include in a reckoning; take into account: There are five of us here, counting me.

to consider or regard: He counted himself lucky to have survived the crash.

Archaic. to reckon to the credit of another; ascribe; impute.

verb (used without object)

to count the items of a collection one by one in order to determine the total: She counted three times before she was satisfied that none was missing.

to list or name numerals in order: to count to 100 by fives.

to reckon numerically.

to have a specified numerical value.

to be accounted or worth something: That first try didn't count—I was just practicing.

to have merit, importance, value, etc.; deserve consideration: Every bit of help counts.

to have worth; amount (usually followed by for): Intelligence counts for something.

noun

the act of counting; enumeration; reckoning; calculation: A count of hands showed 23 in favor and 16 opposed.

the number representing the result of a process of counting; the total number.

an accounting.

Baseball. the number of balls and strikes, usually designated in that order, that have been called on a batter during a turn at bat: a count of two balls and one strike.

Law. a distinct charge or theory of action in a declaration or indictment: He was found guilty on two counts of theft.

Textiles.

a number representing the size or quality of yarn, especially the number based on the relation of weight to length of the yarn and indicating its degree of coarseness.
the number of warp and filling threads per square inch in woven material, representing the texture of the fabric.

Bowling. the number of pins struck down by the first ball rolled by a bowler in the frame following a spare and included in the score for the frame in which the spare was made.

Physics.

a single ionizing reaction registered by an ionization chamber, as in a Geiger counter.
the indication of the total number of ionizing reactions registered by an ionization chamber in a given period of time.

the count, Boxing. the calling aloud by the referee of the seconds from 1 to 10 while a downed boxer remains off his feet. Completion of the count signifies a knockout, which the referee then declares: A hard right sent the challenger down for the count.Also called the full count .

Archaic. regard; notice.

adjective

noting a number of items determined by an actual count: The box is labeled 50 count.

Verb Phrases

count down, to count backward, usually by ones, from a given integer to zero.

count in, to include: If you're going to the beach, count me in.

count off, (often used imperatively, as in the army) to count aloud by turns, as to arrange positions within a group of persons; divide or become divided into groups: Close up ranks and count off from the left by threes.

count on / upon to depend or rely on: You can always count on him to lend you money.

count out,

Boxing. to declare (a boxer) a loser because of inability to stand up before the referee has counted 10 seconds.
to exclude: When it comes to mountain climbing, count me out.
to count and apportion or give out: She counted out four cookies to each child.
to disqualify (ballots) illegally in counting, in order to control the election.

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Idioms about count

count coup. coup¹ (def. 4).

Origin of count

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb counten, compten, from Anglo-French c(o)unter, Old French conter, from Latin computāre “to count up, reckon”; Middle English noun counte, conte, compte, from Anglo-French c(o)unte, Old French conte, cunte, from Late Latin computus “calculation, reckoning,” noun derivative of computāre compute

OTHER WORDS FROM count

half-counted, adjective

Words nearby count

counseling, counselling, counsellor, counselor, counselor-at-law, count, countable, countably additive function, countably compact set, count against, countback

Other definitions for count (2 of 2)

count²

[ kount ]

/ kaʊnt /

noun

(in some European countries) a nobleman equivalent in rank to an English earl.

Origin of count

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English counte. comite, counete, from Anglo-French c(o)unte, Old French conte, comte, from Late Latin comitem, accusative of comes honorary title of various imperial functionaries, Latin: “retainer, staff member,” literally, ”companion”; see origin at comes

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use count in a sentence

Before the pandemic struck, mail-in states such as California were already counting slowly.
Election live updates: Trump returns to Wisconsin; Biden to face live audience at town hall|Colby Itkowitz, Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
The court declined to rule with the Democrats on requiring election workers to give voters a chance to fix deficient ballots or count ballots that arrive without a secret envelope.
Pennsylvania Supreme Court strikes Green Party presidential ticket from ballot, clearing the way for mail ballots to be sent out|Amy Gardner|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
There are a few important caveats to keep in mind when examining Europe’s surging coronavirus case count.
The new Covid-19 case surge in Europe, explained|Julia Belluz|September 17, 2020|Vox
They try to subvert the accuracy of census counts, and block the use of safe voting methods in the middle of a pandemic.
America needs a democratic revolution|Matthew Yglesias|September 17, 2020|Vox

California is one of those states, and if you show up without the one they sent you, you might have to fill out a provisional ballot, which will be counted once the election office confirms your eligibility and that you haven’t already voted.
Why you should vote as early as possible (and how to do it)|John Kennedy|September 17, 2020|Popular-Science
In other words, the free speech exhibited by the folks at Charlie Hebdo was not virtuous—until there was a body count.
Politicians Only Love Journalists When They're Dead|Luke O’Neil|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The Walking Dead piled up an impressive body count in 2014, with Lizzie, Hershel, and Beth among its major casualties.
The Red Viper, Zoe Barnes, and the Best Fictional Deaths of 2014|Melissa Leon|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But as one Jordanian intelligence source told The Daily Beast, “we know ISIS and we know that for it women do not normally count.”
Did ISIS Shoot Down a Fighter Jet?|Jamie Dettmer, Christopher Dickey|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I do not believe we have a current count of fugitives for publication, but will inquire.
Cuba Protects America’s Most Wanted|Michael Daly|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The ad would then count as a coordinated communication and would be subject to strict spending limits.
Just What We Needed: More Campaign Spending|Mark McKinnon|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When the reserve transfers are completed checks in transit can no longer count as reserves.
Readings in Money and Banking|Chester Arthur Phillips
Francesco Bussone di Carmagnola, count de Castlenuovo, executed.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
This is a big country, but you can count on the fingers of one hand the places where a man can spend money.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
He was thrashed at home by Aunty Rosa on the same count, and then the placard was produced.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling
So, madame, I count upon your influence with mademoiselle to see that she is ready to set out by noon to-morrow.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini

British Dictionary definitions for count (1 of 2)

count¹

/ (kaʊnt) /

verb

to add up or check (each unit in a collection) in order to ascertain the sum; enumeratecount your change

(tr) to recite numbers in ascending order up to and including

(tr often foll by in) to take into account or includewe must count him in

not counting excluding

(tr) to believe to be; consider; think; deemcount yourself lucky

(intr) to recite or list numbers in ascending order either in units or groupsto count in tens

(intr) to have value, importance, or influencethis picture counts as a rarity

(intr often foll by for) to have a certain specified value or importancethe job counts for a lot

(intr) music to keep time by counting beats

noun

the act of counting or reckoning

the number reached by counting; sum

law a paragraph in an indictment containing a distinct and separate charge

physics the total number of photons or ionized particles detected by a counter

keep count to keep a record of items, events, etc

lose count to fail to keep an accurate record of items, events, etc

boxing wrestling the act of telling off a number of seconds by the referee, as when a boxer has been knocked down or a wrestler pinned by his opponent

out for the count boxing knocked out and unable to continue after a count of ten by the referee

take the count boxing to be unable to continue after a count of ten

archaic notice; regard; account

Word Origin for count

C14: from Anglo-French counter, from Old French conter, from Latin computāre to calculate, compute

British Dictionary definitions for count (2 of 2)

count²

/ (kaʊnt) /

noun

a nobleman in any of various European countries having a rank corresponding to that of a British earl

any of various officials in the late Roman Empire and under various Germanic kings in the early Middle Ages

a man who has received an honour (papal knighthood) from the Pope in recognition of good deeds, achievements, etc

Derived forms of count

countship, noun

Word Origin for count

C16: from Old French conte, from Late Latin comes occupant of a state office, from Latin: overseer, associate, literally: one who goes with, from com- with + īre to go

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with count

count

In addition to the idioms beginning with count

count against
count down
count for
count in
count noses
count off
count on
count one's chickens before they hatch
count out
count to ten

also see:

down for the count
every minute counts
out for (the count)
stand up and be counted

count

Idioms about count

Origin of count

OTHER WORDS FROM count

Words nearby count

Other definitions for count (2 of 2)

Origin of count

Words related to count

How to use count in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for count (1 of 2)

Word Origin for count

British Dictionary definitions for count (2 of 2)

Derived forms of count

Word Origin for count

Other Idioms and Phrases with count