View synonyms for amount

amount

[ uh-mount ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

the sum total of two or more quantities or sums; aggregate.
the sum of the principal and interest of a loan.
quantity; measure:
a great amount of resistance.
the full effect, value, or significance.

verb (used without object)

to total; add (usually followed by to ):
The repair bill amounts to $300.
to reach, extend, or be equal in number, quantity, effect, etc.; be equivalent (usually followed by to ):
It is stated differently but amounts to the same thing.
to develop into; become (usually followed by to ):
With his intelligence, he should amount to something when he grows up.

amount

/ əˈmaʊnt /

noun

extent; quantity; supply
the total of two or more quantities; sum
the full value, effect, or significance of something
a principal sum plus the interest on it, as in a loan

verb

intrusually foll byto to be equal or add up in effect, meaning, or quantity

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Usage

The use of a plural noun after amount of (an amount of bananas; the amount of refugees ) should be avoided: a quantity of bananas; the number of refugees

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Confusables Note

The traditional distinction between amount and number is that amount is used with mass or uncountable nouns ( the amount of paperwork; the amount of energy ) and number with countable nouns ( a number of songs; a number of days ). Although objected to, the use of amount instead of number with countable nouns occurs in both speech and writing, especially when the noun can be considered as a unit or group ( the amount of people present; the amount of weapons ) or when it refers to money ( the amount of dollars paid; the amount of pennies in the till ).

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Word History and Origins

Origin of amount¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English verb amounten, amunten, from Anglo-French amo(u)nter, amunter, Old French amonter literally, “to go up, ascend,” probably a- + monter; noun use of verb from early 18th century; a- ⁵, mount ¹

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Word History and Origins

Origin of amount¹

C13: from Old French amonter to go up, from amont upwards, from a to + mont mountain (from Latin mōns )

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Example Sentences

The amount of money earned by artists will vary, but a committee of MPs heard in 2021 that the performer's share of royalties is often about 16%.

From BBC

In many cases, homes worth more than $1 million prior to the fires were purchased for less than half that amount decades ago.

From Los Angeles Times

I have a prediction that seems more and more likely based on the growing amounts of evidence.

From Salon

Making a show so closely tied to his life was "very taxing" because of "the sheer amount of emotion" involved.

From BBC

“There’s bass, guitar, infinite amounts of keyboards and drums,” she says.

From Los Angeles Times

amosite amount at risk

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