uncountable

American  

[uhn-koun-tuh-buhl] / ʌnˈkaʊn tə bəl /

adjective

1. not countable; incapable of having the total precisely ascertained.

   uncountable colonies of bacteria; uncountable kindnesses and small favors.

2. indefinitely large in number; infinite.

   the uncountable days of eternity.

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uncountable British  

/ ʌnˈkaʊntəbəl /

adjective

1. too many to be counted; innumerable

2. linguistics denoting a noun that does not refer to an isolable object See mass noun

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Etymology

Origin of uncountable

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at un- ¹, countable

Explanation

Things that are uncountable are too numerous to be calculated or added up, like the uncountable stars in the sky. Some things are clearly uncountable, like the infinite digits in the number pi or the blades of grass in your town park. There's literally no way you could possibly count them all. Other things could theoretically be tallied, but they're still uncountable — at least metaphorically. If you're totally overwhelmed by a huge surprise birthday party, the crowds of guests might seem uncountable, leaving you longing for a quiet celebration with your two best friends.