counting

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

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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 Teams had been 53-0 since 2000, counting playoffs, when leading by 15 points and taking possession with 8-10 minutes left in regulation, per TruMedia. Mike Sando, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025 Under Nathaniel Hackett’s 15-game watch of fans counting down the play clock, a player cursing out his quarterback, and teammates shoving one another on the sidelines and punching opponents, the sheer disconnect was comedic and horrifying. Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025 Metallics Believe it or not, there are some people already counting down the days to the holiday season, eager for a taste of winter spirit. Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 6 Sep. 2025 In their new scheme, the Pats are counting on penetration to disrupt run plays and create tackles for a loss. Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 6 Sep. 2025 And that's not even counting any of the wholly original new shows this fall that are smart, gripping and exciting. Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025 Ukraine is counting missiles while Washington counts down expired deadlines. Brett Erickson, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025 The boy had a wad of cash in his hand, which De Jager accepted without counting, still stunned. Jordan Greene, People.com, 28 Aug. 2025 Adapted by The Menu screenwriter Will Tracy (who also worked on Succession), the film unfolds like a ticking clock, counting down the last days until a lunar eclipse. David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counting
Verb
  • Rare was the big public event in which none of the bold names were telling red-carpet interlocutors that were wearing Armani.
    Belinda Luscombe, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
  • And in this fragile economy—rife with tariffs, skyrocketing living costs, and a looming recession—there’s no telling how one’s financial situation can change on a dime.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The typical basking shark that local whale watches see are about 20 to 25 feet long, weighing several tons.
    Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
  • When weighing your options, keep in mind key decision-making factors, such as how the event could directly benefit you, the overall cost and the potential return on investment.
    John Hall, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • As many tax practitioners predicted, the IRS is relying on new box codes to address new deductions, like the tip deduction.
    Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2025
  • The festival also adjusted as a result of losing big sponsors — Micron among them — and officially switched from three days to two, while relying on smaller businesses to fill funding gaps.
    Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Louisville Metro Council is considering an ordinance to define and regulate new types of homeless shelters that council members hope will help expand shelter access during periods of extreme weather.
    Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 3 Sep. 2025
  • In New York City, the city council is considering a bill that would end the city’s longstanding daylighting exemption.
    Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The platform’s scaling technology automatically adjusts computing resources in near real-time, ensuring that AI applications remain performant even during spikes in demand.
    Jason Phillips, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
  • In partnership, the two companies plan to develop open, scalable platforms that could transform how the world thinks about computing.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • But as kids move into adolescence and gain more independence, friends start mattering more, filling the space previously held by parents and teachers.
    Russell Shaw, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Even if those details are years away from mattering, having everyone on the same page now can head off confusion (or conflict) later.
    Andrew Rosen, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • OpenAI also says there is a 45 percent to 65 percent reduction in factual errors over GPT-4, depending on the setting, as well as substantial gains in handling medical and coding tasks on industry-standard benchmarks.
    Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Judging by the angry reaction on social media, Illinois politicos may well ultimately conclude the $36 million in annual revenue (or whatever the haul turns out to be depending on how many bettors turn to out-of-state platforms) wasn’t worth the backlash.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The school notified Phoenix police about concerns regarding Rebekah's welfare earlier this year after a school resource officer visiting her home saw the girl with a black eye and reached out to DCS, Holman said.
    Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2025
  • In early July, Oak Creek City Administrator Andrew Vickers told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel the city’s timeline for Buc-ee’s hit a different speed bump regarding a traffic analysis.
    Erik S. Hanley, jsonline.com, 28 Aug. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Counting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counting. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.

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