counter

¹ American  

[koun-ter] / ˈkaʊn tər /

noun

1. a table or display case on which goods can be shown, business transacted, etc.

2. (in restaurants, luncheonettes, etc.) a long, narrow table with stools or chairs along one side for the patrons, behind which refreshments or meals are prepared and served.

3. a surface for the preparation of food in a kitchen, especially on a low cabinet.

4. anything used in keeping account, as a disk of metal or wood, used in some games, as checkers, for marking a player's position or for keeping score.

5. an imitation coin or token.

6. a coin; money.

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idioms

1. over the counter,

   1. (of the sale of stock) through a broker's office rather than through the stock exchange.

   2. (of the sale of merchandise) through a retail store rather than through a wholesaler.

2. under the counter, in a clandestine manner, especially illegally.

   books sold under the counter.

counter ² American  

[koun-ter] / ˈkaʊn tər /

noun

1. a device for counting revolutions of a wheel, items produced, etc.

2. a person who counts.

3. Cards. card counter.

4. Computers. a storage register or program variable used to tally how often something of interest occurs.

5. Electronics. scaler.

6. Physics. any of various instruments for detecting ionizing radiation and for registering counts.

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counter ³ American  

[koun-ter] / ˈkaʊn tər /

adverb

1. in the wrong way; contrary to the right course; in the reverse or opposite direction.

2. contrary; in opposition (usually preceded by run orgo ).

   to run counter to the rules.

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adjective

1. opposite; contrary; opposed.

noun

1. something that is opposite or contrary to something else.

2. a blow delivered in receiving or parrying another blow, as in boxing.

3. a statement or action made to refute, oppose, or nullify another statement or action.

4. Fencing. a circular parry.

5. a piece of leather or other material inserted between the lining and outside leather of a shoe or boot quarter to keep it stiff.

6. Nautical. the part of a stern that overhangs and projects aft of the sternpost of a vessel.

7. Also called void.  Typesetting. any part of the face of a type that is less than type-high and is therefore not inked.

8. Engineering, Building Trades. a truss member subject to stress only under certain partial loadings of the truss.

9. the part of a horse's breast that lies between the shoulders and under the neck.

verb (used with object)

1. to go counter to; oppose; controvert.

2. to meet or answer (a move, blow, etc.) by another in return.

verb (used without object)

1. to make a counter or opposing move.

2. to give a blow while receiving or parrying one, as in boxing.

counter ⁴ American  

[koun-ter] / ˈkaʊn tər /

verb (used with object)

1. to encounter in opposition or combat.

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counter- ⁵ American  

1. a combining form of counter, used with the meanings “against,” “contrary,” “opposite,” “in opposition or response to” (countermand ); “complementary,” “in reciprocation,” “corresponding,” “parallel” (counterfoil; counterbalance ); “substitute,” “duplicate” (counterfeit ).

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counter ¹ British  

/ ˈkaʊntə /

adverb

1. in a contrary direction or manner

2. in a wrong or reverse direction

3. to have a contrary effect or action to

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adjective

1. opposing; opposite; contrary

noun

1. something that is contrary or opposite to some other thing

2. an act, effect, or force that opposes another

3. a return attack, such as a blow in boxing

4. fencing a parry in which the foils move in a circular fashion

5. the portion of the stern of a boat or ship that overhangs the water aft of the rudder

6. Also called: void.  printing the inside area of a typeface that is not type high, such as the centre of an "o", and therefore does not print

7. the part of a horse's breast under the neck and between the shoulders

8. a piece of leather forming the back of a shoe

verb

1. to say or do (something) in retaliation or response

2. (tr) to move, act, or perform in a manner or direction opposite to (a person or thing)

3. to return the attack of (an opponent)

counter ² British  

/ ˈkaʊntə /

noun

1. a horizontal surface, as in a shop or bank, over which business is transacted

2. (in some cafeterias) a long table on which food is served to customers

3. 1. a small flat disc of wood, metal, or plastic, used in various board games

   2. a similar disc or token used as an imitation coin

4. a person or thing that may be used or manipulated

5. a skating figure consisting of three circles

6. (under-the-counter when prenominal) (of the sale of goods, esp goods in short supply) clandestine, surreptitious, or illegal; not in an open manner

7. (over-the-counter when prenominal) (of security transactions) through a broker rather than on a stock exchange

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counter ³ British  

/ ˈkaʊntə /

noun

1. a person who counts

2. an apparatus that records the number of occurrences of events

3. any instrument for detecting or counting ionizing particles or photons See Geiger counter scintillation counter crystal counter

4. electronics another name for scaler

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counter- ⁴ British  

prefix

1. against; opposite; contrary

   counterattack

2. complementary; corresponding

   counterfoil

3. duplicate or substitute

   counterfeit

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counter More Idioms  

1. see run counter to; under the counter.

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Usage

What does counter- mean? Counter- is a combining form used like a prefix with a variety of meanings, primarily meaning “against," "contrary," or "opposite." It is often used in everyday and technical terms.Counter- comes from Middle English countre-, meaning “against.” A related prefix is contra-, as in contraindicate, meaning "against," from Latin contrā. Find out more at our entries for contra- and contraindicate.

Etymology

Origin of counter¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English countour, from Anglo-French ( Old French comptoir ), from Medieval Latin computātorium “place for computing,” equivalent to Latin computā(re) “to think, calculate” + -tōrium noun suffix; compute, -tory ²; count ¹

Origin of counter²

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English countour, from Anglo-French ( Old French conteor ), ultimately derived from Latin computātor, equivalent to computā(re) “to think, calculate” + -tor noun suffix; compute, -tor

Origin of counter³

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English countre, from Anglo-French co(u)ntre, cuntre, Old French contre, from Latin contrā “against”; counter-

Origin of counter⁴

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English countren, aphetic variant of acountren, from Middle French acontrer; a- ⁵, encounter

Origin of counter-⁵

Middle English countre-; counter ³

Example Sentences

Among European airlines, Air France-KLM has said it plans to increase long-haul fares to counter higher fuel costs, while Scandinavian carrier SAS has raised prices and said it will cut 1,000 flights in April.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

If you’re at the airport, head to a ticket counter to see what can be done for you.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

Organised by hundreds of groups, including trade unions, anti-racism campaigners and Muslim representative bodies, the Together Alliance event was billed as the biggest march in UK history to counter the far right.

From Barron's • Mar. 28, 2026

At the multi-level Red Bull Mirage that overlooks the Quasar Stage, Nobu will offer a reservation-only omakase counter.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

He also put a button behind the counter in the shop and one in each workbench as well as beneath the windows in Tante Jans’s rooms.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Related Words

• counteract
• foil
• offset
• oppose
• resist
• respond
• retaliate