counting

Definition of countingnext
present participle of count
1
as in telling
to find the sum of (a collection of things) by noting each one as it is being added count the baseball gloves in the storage locker to see if there are enough to go around

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in weighing
to be of importance punctuality and a neat appearance count during a job interview

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of counting Officials were still counting the votes Sunday and final results were expected later in the week. Binaj Gurubacharya, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026 Her next step is to get the album ready and start rehearsing major shows in Spain, where fans have been counting down. Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2026 Just half of the 30 MLB teams have a coach who was still a player in this decade, and just four other teams have even two (counting their manager) players who were still in the league as late as 2020. Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026 Vote counting would begin immediately after the ballot boxes are collected and transported to counting centers across the Himalayan nation, which could be as early as Thursday night. Arkansas Online, 6 Mar. 2026 Some of the polling stations are high up in remote mountain villages, which are accessible only by days of hiking, leading authorities to arrange the transport of ballot boxes by helicopter to counting centers. ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026 No other phone in this comparison even supports a stylus (not counting capacitive ones). Iyaz Akhtar, PC Magazine, 5 Mar. 2026 Many Republicans, however, likely aren’t counting dollars in this way. Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 27 Feb. 2026 For context, in 2025 Universal had the largest output with 20 films (including titles from its indie division, Focus Features) in 2025, followed by Disney with 16 (counting those from 20th Century and Searchlight) and Sony with 13 releases. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counting
Verb
  • The White House is telling Republicans to refine their immigration messaging as the party stares down the midterm elections, a tacit acknowledgement that its hardline rhetoric about mass deportation risks alienating voters.
    Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Letitia Wilbourn, a Fort Worth resident and a member of the Echo Heights neighborhood association, spoke in opposition to the substation improvements at the Zoning Commission meeting, telling commissioners that substations have led to health problems in the neighborhood.
    Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Heavy thickening products can backfire by weighing strands down and making hair appear flatter.
    Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026
  • The question weighing over this year's critical midterm elections is whether the president's backing is a help or hindrance.
    Dana Taylor, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Understanding past oil shocks is important, but relying on them too heavily can encourage the wrong conclusion — that we are either headed for a 1979-style crisis or that the economic consequences will be negligible.
    Alaa Shahine Salha, semafor.com, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Hernandez is a throwback player in many ways, relying on a mid-range game of pull-up jumpers and fadeaways.
    Dan Arritt, Oc Register, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • In an effort to allay whipsawing energy markets, Western powers are considering an International Energy Agency proposal for the largest-ever release of oil reserves.
    Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 11 Mar. 2026
  • As a result, Chandra is good for a lot of things, but its limitations matter when considering those big questions above.
    Big Think, Big Think, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Now, China is rolling out computing power for its homegrown AI companies as part of its 15th five-year development plan that kicked off in January.
    Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Danz seemed immediately aware that something wasn’t computing.
    Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Psychologists, sociologists, and philosophers vary in their definitions of mattering, but at its core, mattering is the feeling that we are valued and have value to add to the world.
    Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
  • When age stopped mattering During the bourbon boom that accelerated after 2012, demand exploded faster than distilleries could age whiskey.
    Emily Price, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • All new data centers connecting to the grid must now provide dispatchable power — electricity that can be turned on or off depending on the national grid’s needs — or have the capacity to store energy.
    April Roach,Gaelle Legrand, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026
  • The high costs are likely only temporary, depending primarily on the longevity of the conflict in the Middle East.
    Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The community has experienced decades of disinvestment and broken promises regarding urban renewal projects and safety improvements.
    Cameron Knight, Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 Mar. 2026
  • Back in January, Brooklyn shared a lengthy statement regarding his relationship with his family.
    Meg Walters, InStyle, 7 Mar. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Counting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counting. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on counting

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster