¹amount

verb \ə-ˈmau̇nt\

Definition of AMOUNT

intransitive verb

a : to be equivalent <acts that amount to treason>

b : to reach in kind or quality <wants her son to amount to something> <doesn't amount to much>

: to reach a total : add up <the bill amounts to $10>

See amount defined for English-language learners

See amount defined for kids

Origin of AMOUNT

Middle English, from Anglo-French amounter, from amount upward, from a- (from Latin ad-) + mont mountain — more at mount

First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with AMOUNT

account, blood count, demount, discount, dismount, high-count, point count, recount, remount, seamount, surmount, viscount

²amount

noun

: a quantity of something

: a quantity of money

Full Definition of AMOUNT

a : the total number or quantity : aggregate

b : the quantity at hand or under consideration <has an enormous amount of energy>

: the whole effect, significance, or import

: a principal sum and the interest on it

See amount defined for English-language learners

Usage Discussion of AMOUNT

Number is regularly used with count nouns <a large number of mistakes> <any number of times> while amount is mainly used with mass nouns <annual amount of rainfall> <a substantial amount of money>. The use of amount with count nouns has been frequently criticized; it usually occurs when the number of things is thought of as a mass or collection <glad to furnish any amount of black pebbles — New Yorker> <a substantial amount of film offers — Lily Tomlin> or when money is involved <a substantial amount of loans — E. R. Black>.