amount
About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.
About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1amount
intransitive verb \ə-ˈmau̇nt\Definition of AMOUNT
1
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>
2
: to reach a total : add up <the bill amounts to $10>
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
2amount
nounDefinition of AMOUNT
1
a : the total number or quantity : aggregate b : the quantity at hand or under consideration <has an enormous amount of energy>
2
: the whole effect, significance, or import
3
: a principal sum and the interest on it
See 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>.
Examples of AMOUNT
- The drug is not being produced in adequate amounts.
- What is the amount to be paid?
- An amount was finally agreed upon.
- The new law limits the amount a candidate can spend.
- When he died we found he owed money to the amount of $250,000!
First Known Use of AMOUNT
1595
Learn More About AMOUNT
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: amount at risk
Previous Word in the Dictionary: amotion
All Words Near: amount
Previous Word in the Dictionary: amotion
All Words Near: amount
Seen & Heard 
What made you want to look up amount? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
