amount

verb

\ ə-ˈmau̇nt

amounted; amounting; amounts

Definition of amount

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : to be the same in meaning or effect as acts that amount to treason

b : to reach in kind or quality : to turn out to be wanted her son to amount to something [=to be successful] The changes don't really amount to much. [=are not really substantial or significant]

2 : to reach a total : add up The bill amounts to $10.

amount

noun

Definition of amount (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : the total number or quantity : aggregate trying to figure the amount of time it will take

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

2 : the whole effect, significance, or import

3 accounting : a principal sum and the interest on it

Synonyms Amount vs. Number: Usage Guide More Example Sentences Learn More about amount

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Synonyms for amount

Synonyms: Noun

measure, quantity, quantum, volume

Amount vs. Number: Usage Guide

Noun

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 in a Sentence

Noun

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!

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The state Senate in Little Rock this week passed what would amount to the second-largest income-tax cut in Arkansas history. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, "Arkansas Tax Cutters," 8 Feb. 2019 The report details what amounts to a dysfunctional destroyer and crew, particularly with regard to navigation procedures, that almost assured a fatal collision like the one that took place on June 17, 2017. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "Secret Probe Into USS Fitzgerald Disaster Revealed a Ship in Appalling Shape," 14 Jan. 2019 That’s unknown but having what amounts to a third player in sound cards can only be good for PC audio ,which has always played second fiddle to sexier graphics cards, CPUs, and even storage. — Gordon Mah Ung, PCWorld, "EVGA gets into sound cards with Nu Audio, a high-end board that delivers 'lifelike' gaming," 8 Jan. 2019 Rather than simply reducing the workload on pilots, these systems are on the verge of becoming what amounts to another co-pilot. — Alyson Behr, Ars Technica, "More than an auto-pilot, AI charts its course in aviation," 5 Dec. 2018 But that’s months away, at least, and the robot may never cultivate a robust enough community of app makers or serious roboticists eager to make what will ultimately amount to simple software switches. — Nick Statt, The Verge, "Anki Vector review: modern-day Tamagotchi," 5 Nov. 2018 And certainly, so close to really what amounts to the only meeting where senior officials actually had contact with someone who was representing the Russian government in a -- in a campaign conversation. — Fox News, "Legal, political fallout from Trump tweet on 2016 meeting," 6 Aug. 2018 Croatia has played what amounts to an entire additional game thanks to three bouts of extra time. — Usa Today Sports, USA TODAY, "World Cup final predictions: Will France or Croatia lift the trophy?," 13 July 2018 For developers contemplating what amounts to a massive bet on a multiyear project, the prospect of a trade war is nerve-racking, said Tom O’Brien, managing partner of HYM Investments. — Adam Vaccaro, BostonGlobe.com, "Tariffs are making it more expensive to build in Boston — and that could push rents even higher," 12 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Some research points to this diuretic effect being strongest in people who don’t regularly drink caffeine, then have high amounts of it. — Korin Miller, SELF, "Is Coffee Actually Dehydrating?," 6 Mar. 2019 Bring that amount in the form of a cashier’s check, then sit back and get ready to sign your name—over and over and over. — Nancy Mann Jackson, House Beautiful, "Here's Exactly What It Takes To Buy A Home," 26 Feb. 2019 Not even John Travolta’s bizarre amount of face touching could bring it down. — Marisa Polansky And Kristine Keller, Vogue, "A Helpful Guide to Nailing Your Oscars Acceptance Speech," 24 Feb. 2019 Kylie made $330 million in 2017 off of all of her makeup products, according to Forbes, and that amount has only continued to grow. — Katherine J. Igoe, Marie Claire, "Estimating Jordyn Woods' Net Worth From Her Kardashian Collaborations," 21 Feb. 2019 Using a rug pad can also help minimize the amount of shedding. — Monique Valeris, ELLE Decor, "What is a Jute Rug?," 20 Feb. 2019 No amount of Cooper cameos at Lady Gaga concerts seems able to save it. — Jake Coyle, The Seattle Times, "What will win best picture? It’s a maddeningly close race," 20 Feb. 2019 And although the White House eventually came around to bipartisan proposals to very slightly improve background checks and ban bump stocks, the compromises amount to fairly small changes to America’s weak gun laws. — German Lopez, Vox, "I’ve covered gun violence for years. The solutions aren’t a big mystery.," 14 Feb. 2019 Wash a plastic curtain on the highest water level with regular amount of detergent, and add two to three bath towels for extra cleaning agitation. — Lauren Smith, Good Housekeeping, "How to Get Rid of Mold and Mildew in the Mustiest Corners of Your House," 6 Feb. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'amount.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.