amount
[ uh-mount ]
/ əˈmaʊnt /
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)
Origin of amount
usage 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 usage note at the current entry)Words nearby amount
British Dictionary definitions for amount to
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
Word Origin for 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
Idioms and Phrases with amount to
amount to
Add up, develop into, as in Even though she's careful with her money, her savings don't amount to much, or All parents hope that their children will amount to something. [Mid-1500s]
Be equivalent to, as in Twenty persons won't amount to a good turnout. [Late 1300s] Also see amount to the same thing.