amount

1.nounB1

Definition

the total quantity of something thought of as one whole, not as separate items; it can also mean a money total.

Example

We were shocked by the amount of snow on the school roof.

amount of + uncountable noun

Only a small amount of money was left in Nina's purse.

a small amount of + money

Common collocations

amount of snow
amount of money
same amount of
huge amount of
measure the amount of

Synonyms

quantity
slightly more formal and often used in measurement contexts
volume
used especially for a large quantity of activity, sales, or liquid
sum
used mainly for money or figures after addition
total
focuses on the final figure rather than the idea of quantity in general

Grammar Patterns

amount of [something]

a small / large amount of [something]

the same amount of [something]

Usage Note

Usually used with uncountable nouns such as time, money, snow, or water. With countable things, learners normally use 'number' instead, unless the items are being viewed as one mass or total cost.

Common Mistakes

A large amount of students missed class.

A large number of students missed class.

use 'number' with individually countable people or things.

Idioms

any amount of something

idiom

A very large quantity of something.

The chef used any amount of garlic in the sauce.

Did you know there is any amount of data on that server?

no amount of something

idiom

Used to say that something will not be enough to change a situation.

No amount of money could convince Mia to move.

No amount of practice will make him a professional singer.

1.verbintransitiveC1

Definition

to have the same practical meaning or result as something else, even if the action or words look different.

Example

Ignoring the fire alarm amounts to putting every worker at risk.

amount to + -ing form

Charging extra fees after booking amounts to cheating the customer.

Common collocations

amount to fraud
amount to cheating
amount to betrayal
amount to dismissal

Synonyms

equal
broader and less idiomatic; not limited to judgement or consequence
be equivalent to
more formal and explicit
count as
more informal and often used in rules or categories

Grammar Patterns

amount to + noun

amount to + -ing form

Usage Note

Almost always appears as 'amount to'. Common when judging actions in moral, legal, or practical terms. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense says one thing is effectively the same as another, rather than describing the final outcome.

Common Mistakes

Hiding the accident amounts a lie.

Hiding the accident amounts to a lie.

this sense needs the preposition 'to'.

2.verbintransitiveB2

Definition

to make a particular total when every part is added together.

Example

The repair bill amounted to over eight hundred dollars.

amount to + money total

Mina's weekly bus fares to the hospital amount to nearly fifty dollars.

Common collocations

amount to $80
amount to a total
amount to three hours
amount to 420 meals

Synonyms

total
common and direct in everyday English
add up to
very close in meaning and slightly less formal
come to
common in speech for prices and bills

Grammar Patterns

amount to + number

amount to + money

amount to + total

Usage Note

Used for figures, costs, quantities, and totals. The subject is usually a bill, a cost, sales, orders, or several smaller amounts taken together. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense gives a computed total, not the final importance or outcome.

Common Mistakes

The bill amounted at 80 dollars.

The bill amounted to 80 dollars.

use 'to' before the final figure.

3.verbintransitiveC1

Definition

to end up producing a particular result, level, or value, often after time or effort has already been spent.

Example

After six months of talks, the plan amounted to one short email.

amount to + final result

On Ken's first hospital shift, all his training amounted to very little.

amount to very little

Common collocations

amount to little
amount to much
amount to nothing
amount to one short email

Synonyms

turn out to be
plain-English equivalent with a wider range of subjects
end up as
slightly more conversational
come to
can be close in meaning, but is often used for totals instead

Grammar Patterns

amount to + noun phrase

amount to little / much / nothing

Usage Note

Often used when someone judges what all the effort, time, or activity finally produced. Distinguish from sense 1: here the focus is the outcome that appeared in the end, not an equivalence in meaning or blame.

Common Mistakes

After months of work, the talks amounted to 5,000 dollars.

After months of work, the talks amounted to one short statement.

this sense names the final outcome; use sense 3 for calculated totals.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Amount' is the normal word for how much of something there is when we think of it as a mass: an amount of water, time, money, or damage. 'Quantity' is close, but feels more formal and often appears in science, measurement, or instructions. 'Number' is different because it is mainly for individually countable items: a number of students, reasons, or chairs. 'Sum' is narrower still and usually points to money or figures after addition. 'Volume' often suggests a large amount, especially of liquid, trade, or activity. So you would say an amount of sugar, a number of books, a sum of 5,000 dollars, and a high volume of calls.

quantity ↗number ↗sum ↗volume ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

time
money
work
damage
cost

Adverbs

Phrases

a large amount of
a small amount of
the same amount of
amount to nothing
amount to a total of

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchAnglo-FrenchMiddle EnglishModern English

'Amount' first came into English as a verb in the Middle English period from Anglo-French forms related to Old French 'amont', meaning 'upward'. That French word came from a phrase meaning 'toward the mountain', built from Latin 'ad' and 'mons'. The earliest idea was one of rising or increasing. From that, English developed the later meanings of reaching a total, being equal in effect, and finally the noun sense of a quantity or sum.

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amount

amount — noun

1. the total quantity of something thought of as one whole, not as separate items;

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

any amount of something

no amount of something

amount — verb

1. to have the same practical meaning or result as something else, even if the acti

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. to make a particular total when every part is added together.

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. to end up producing a particular result, level, or value, often after time or ef

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

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