count

1 of 3

verb

ˈkau̇nt 

 dialectal  ˈkyau̇nt

counted; counting; counts

transitive verb

1

a

: to indicate or name by units or groups so as to find the total number of units involved : number

Count the pages of the manuscript.

b

: to name the numbers in order up to and including

Count ten.

c

: to include in a tallying and reckoning

about 100 present, counting children

d

: to call aloud (beats or time units)

Count cadence.

Count the eighth notes.

2

a

: consider, account

count oneself lucky

b

: to record as of an opinion or persuasion

Count me as uncommitted.

3

: to include or exclude by or as if by counting

Count me in.

intransitive verb

1

a

: to recite or indicate the numbers in order by units or groups

count by fives

b

: to count the units in a group

She was interrupted while she was counting.

2

: to rely or depend on someone or something

—used with on

He counted on his parents to help with the expenses.

3

: add, total

It counts up to a sizable amount.

4

a

: to have value or significance

These are the people who really count.

His opinions don't count for much.

b

: to deserve to be regarded or considered

a job so easy it hardly counts as work

see also count out

count

2 of 3

noun (1)

plural counts

1

a

: the action or process of counting

b

: a total obtained by counting : tally

2

archaic

a

: reckoning, account

b

: consideration, estimation

3

a

: allegation, charge

specifically : one separately stating the cause of action or prosecution in a legal declaration or indictment

guilty on all counts

b

: a specific point under consideration : issue

disagreeing on this count

4

: the total number of individual things in a given unit or sample obtained by counting all or a subsample of them

bacteria count

5

a

: the calling off of the seconds from one to ten when a boxer has been knocked down

He took a count of nine before getting up.

see also down for the count, take the count

b

: the number of balls and strikes charged to a baseball batter during one turn

The count stood at 3 and 2.

c

: score

tied the count with a minute to play

6

a

: a measurement of the thickness or fineness of yarn by determining the number of hanks or yards per pound it produces

b

: the number of threads per square inch in a cloth

count

3 of 3

noun (2)

: a European nobleman whose rank corresponds to that of a British earl

Phrases

and counting

: with more to come

in business for 50 years and counting

count heads or count noses

: to count the number present

count on

: to look forward to as certain : anticipate

counted on winning

Synonyms

Verb

• enumerate
• number
• tell

Noun (1)

• census
• tale
• tally

Examples of count in a Sentence

Verb

Count the plates on the table.

She made sure to count her change.

Count how many fingers I am holding up.

He counted seven deer in the field.

There are 10 days left until the end of school, counting from today.

Keep counting until there are no more left to count.

Don't interrupt me. I'm counting.

Can your daughter count yet?

There will be 150 people at the wedding, not counting children.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

For example, as of the end of 2023, Netflix counted 260.28 million total subscribers globally, meaning Netflix’s reach in terms of total number of viewers is even bigger than that. —Todd Spangler, Variety, 11 Apr. 2024

The company counts among its clients storied hotels like the Danieli in Venice, New York’s Plaza and London’s Savoy, as well as upward of 500 royal families. —Devorah Lev-Tov Kin Woo Ella Riley-Adams Jameson Montgomery Kurt Soller Megan O’Sullivan, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024

His 2023 Apple epic Napoleon grossed $221 million globally, which would be a concerning number for a legacy studio, though the tech giant was not counting on it as a theatrical play. —Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024

Right now, the program counts with over 23 million households enrolled across all 50 states, territories and federally recognized tribal lands and its success, its reach and the impact of the program are absolutely unquestionable. —Abc News, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2024

By November 1957, three months after opening, the turnpike counted its 1 millionth customer: E.W. Locker, a 28-year-old from Arlington Heights who was commuting to the new General Motors plant in Arlington. —Matt Leclercq, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2024

Although that goal in Lambeau Field didn't count toward regular season records, Haaland would go on to set the Premier League record for goals in a season with 36 goals in 38 games. —Ricardo Torres, Journal Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2024

The department counts more than 500 prisoners with serious vision problems and about 80 with severe hearing problems, though Grunfeld thinks both are undercounts. —Don Thompson, Sacramento Bee, 9 Apr. 2024

The San Diego hospitality juggernaut, CH Projects, invested $134 million — and counting — into a meticulous update that also includes seven new restaurants and bars, the last of which will open later this year. —Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Apr. 2024

Noun

Rice’s bond was set at $5,000 for each count, and he was released Thursday night after posting the $40,000 bond. —Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Apr. 2024

He was also convicted of four counts of recklessly endangering safety and one count of battery. —Andy Rose, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024

By all counts, William Edward Simon had a remarkable career, one that began in private industry as a free-market crusader in the 1950s, veered into government service as Treasury secretary in the Nixon and Ford administrations, and included an impressive array of philanthropic endeavors. —Tom Saler, Journal Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2024

Trump has pleaded not guilty to all counts in the case. —USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024

In a race with six people and a large chunk of voters undecided, every percentage point counts. —The Indianapolis Star, 11 Apr. 2024

Ebony Parker is charged with eight counts of felony child abuse with disregard for life for the shooting, which left first grade teacher Abby Zwerner with life-threatening injuries. —Julia Reinstein, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2024

That region’s numbers have ticked up from 2021 (when fewer than 3,050 individuals were tallied during a point-in-time count) to last year’s total of 3,270. —Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2024

Kelly also faces one felony count of arson of property of another, per the D.A.'s Office. —Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 30 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French cunter, counter, from Latin computare, from com- + putare to consider

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Anglo-French cunte, from Late Latin comit-, comes, from Latin, companion, one of the imperial court, from com- + ire to go — more at issue entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing count

• at the count of
• blood count
• body count
• by the count of
• count calories
• count heads
• count noses
• count noun
• count off
• count off (something)
• count on
• count one's blessings
• count one's chickens (before they hatch)
• count one's chickens before they're hatched
• count out
• count palatine
• count (someone) in
• count the cost
• count the hours
• count toward/towards
• did a head count
• down for the count
• for a count of
• full count
• head count
• high-count
• keep count
• lose count
• out for the count
• point count
• pollen count
• sperm count
• take the count
• the count
• too many to count

Kids Definition

count

1 of 3 verb

ˈkau̇nt 

1

a

: to add one by one so as to find the total number of a group of things

count the apples in a box

b

: to name the consecutive numbers up to and including

count ten

c

: to recite the numbers one by one or by groups

count to one hundred by fives

d

: to include in a tally

forty present, counting children

2

a

: consider sense 3

count myself lucky

b

: to include or leave out by or as if by counting

count me in

count me out

3

a

: to have value or importance

every vote counts

b

: to deserve to be regarded or considered

a job so easy it hardly counts as work

countable

-ə-bəl

adjective

count

2 of 3 noun

1

a

: the act or process of counting

b

: a total obtained by counting : tally

2

: a charge of wrongdoing

especially : a separate item in a legal accusation

guilty on all counts

3

: the number of balls and strikes charged to a baseball batter during one turn

count

3 of 3 noun

: a European nobleman whose rank is equal to that of a British earl

Etymology

Verb

Middle English counten "to add one by one," from early French counter (same meaning), derived from Latin computare "to count, compute" — related to account, compute

Noun

from early French cunte "nobleman," derived from Latin comes "companion, member of a royal court," literally, "one who goes with another," from com- "with" and -es, a form of ire "to go" — related to county, itinerary

Medical Definition

count

1 of 2 transitive verb

ˈkau̇nt 

: to indicate or name by units or groups so as to find the total number of units involved

count

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: the action or process of counting

b

: a total obtained by counting

2

: the total number of individual things in a given unit or sample (as of blood) obtained by counting all or a subsample of them see addis count, blood count, cell count, red blood count, white count

Legal Definition

count

noun

: charge

specifically : a charge (as in a complaint or indictment) that separately states a cause of action or especially offense

guilty on all counts