counter
counter — noun
1. a long narrow table or flat surface found in places such as shops, banks, or res
a long narrow table or flat surface found in places such as shops, banks, or restaurants, where customers are served or business is carried out
Baraka stood at the airport check-in counter with his passport and boarding pass.
collocation: at the counter
The shop assistant placed the gift on the counter and wrapped it carefully in red paper.
Shirin leaned on the counter and asked the receptionist whether any rooms were available.
collocation: behind the counter (staff position)
Customers who pay at the counter receive a printed receipt with their change.
- at the counter
- behind the counter
- over the counter
- service counter
- check-in counter
- kitchen counter
- desk
usually a writing surface in an office, not a service point in a shop
Grammar Patterns
at the counter
behind the counter
Usage Note
Frequently paired with prepositions 'at', 'behind', or 'over' to indicate position relative to the surface. 'Behind the counter' refers to the staff area.
Common Mistakes
2. a level work area built into kitchen cabinetry, used for chopping, mixing, and o
a level work area built into kitchen cabinetry, used for chopping, mixing, and other food preparation tasks
Élise rolled out the dough on the clean granite counter and cut it into circles.
collocation: on the counter
Ziad wiped the kitchen counter with a damp cloth after chopping the vegetables.
Haruto set the hot pan down on a wooden board instead of directly on the counter.
usage note: protect surface from heat
The counter was covered with bowls of fruit, a coffee machine, and a stack of mail.
- kitchen counter
- granite counter
- marble counter
- countertop
- on the counter
- wipe the counter
- worktop
British English equivalent; refers to the same kitchen surface
Grammar Patterns
on the counter
Usage Note
This sense is the standard term in North American English; in British English 'worktop' or 'work surface' is more common.
3. a small round or shaped piece of plastic, wood, or metal that players push aroun
a small round or shaped piece of plastic, wood, or metal that players push around a board to show where they are in games such as chess, backgammon, or Monopoly
Sade carefully moved her red counter three spaces forward on the board.
collocation: move a counter
The children counted their coloured counters at the end of each round of the game.
A single white counter remained on the board after Dario captured all the other pieces.
Esme rolled the dice and moved her blue counter past the finish line first.
- move a counter
- coloured counters
- game counter
- counters on a board
Grammar Patterns
move a counter
counters on a board
Usage Note
Distinguish from 'piece' or 'token' — 'counter' emphasises the object used for keeping score or marking position rather than the playing piece itself. Often used in abstract strategy games.
4. a device, machine, or person that records how many times something happens or ho
a device, machine, or person that records how many times something happens or how many items there are
The electronic counter on the gym door showed that 47 people were inside.
Hyun worked as an official vote counter during the city council election last November.
person as counter
A small handheld counter helped Ada keep track of how many visitors entered the museum.
device as counter
The factory installed a digital counter to track how many bottles came off the line each hour.
- vote counter
- electronic counter
- handheld counter
- counter for [something]
- Geiger counter
- tally counter
a specific handheld mechanical device for counting
- teller
a person who counts votes, used in formal contexts
Grammar Patterns
a counter for [something]
electronic counter
Usage Note
When referring to a person, 'counter' is most often used in compound roles such as 'vote counter' or 'bean counter' (informal, sometimes negative).
5. in American football, a type of play where the player carrying the ball heads on
in American football, a type of play where the player carrying the ball heads one way, then switches direction suddenly to trick the defending team
The quarterback handed the ball off, and the running back executed a perfect counter to the left.
collocation: execute a counter
Cyrus faked a run up the middle and then used a counter to gain fifteen yards.
The coach called a counter on third down, and the runner found a gap on the right side.
Defenders were caught off guard when the running back cut back on a counter play.
collocation: counter play
- run a counter
- counter play
- counter to the left/right
- reverse
a different type of play where the ball changes direction through a handoff, not just a change of direction by the runner
Grammar Patterns
run a counter
counter play
Usage Note
Used primarily by coaches, players, and commentators. Not common in everyday conversation outside of American football contexts.
6. a retaliatory strike thrown by a boxer straight after evading or blocking the op
a retaliatory strike thrown by a boxer straight after evading or blocking the opponent's punch, exploiting an opening
The boxer saw the jab coming, ducked under it, and landed a hard counter to the jaw.
collocation: land a counter
Iker's right cross was his best counter, and he practised it for hours every morning.
The trainer taught the young fighter how to throw a counter immediately after slipping a punch.
A clean counter to the chin sent the challenger stumbling backward across the ring.
- land a counter
- throw a counter
- a hard counter
- counter punch
- counterpunch
the full term; 'counter' is a shortened form used informally
Grammar Patterns
land a counter
throw a counter
Usage Note
Almost always used in boxing commentary and training. The verb form 'counter' (to throw a counter-punch) is also common in this context.
7. in bowls, a bowl sitting nearer to the jack (the small white marker ball) than a
in bowls, a bowl sitting nearer to the jack (the small white marker ball) than any bowl the other side has delivered
With her final delivery Padma placed a perfect counter just inches from the jack.
collocation: place a counter
After all bowls in the round were played, the team had two counters and scored three points in total.
To win the match, the skip needed to draw a counter past the opponent's nearest bowl.
The crowd cheered when the last bowl stopped rolling and turned out to be a counter.
- have a counter
- a counter shot
- lie a counter
- play a counter
Grammar Patterns
have a counter
lie a counter
Usage Note
This sense is specific to lawn bowls and crown green bowls. A 'counter' gives the player or team a scoring position.
over the counter
idiomavailable to buy without a prescription from a doctor, especially referring to medicines that can be purchased directly in a pharmacy or shop
You can buy aspirin over the counter at any pharmacy without seeing a doctor.
Antonia asked the pharmacist whether the allergy medication was available over the counter.
under the counter
idiomsold or done secretly and often illegally, especially when goods are scarce or restricted
During the shortage, some shopkeepers sold essential goods under the counter at higher prices.
The officer suspected that cigarettes were being traded under the counter at the corner store.
counter — verb
1. to say or do something in response to an argument, criticism, attack, or proposa
to say or do something in response to an argument, criticism, attack, or proposal, especially in order to oppose it or reduce its effect
Christopher countered the criticism by pointing out that sales had actually risen by twenty percent.
pattern: counter + noun + by + -ing
The lawyer countered that the evidence had been obtained without a proper warrant.
pattern: counter + that-clause
Gabriela listened to her proposal and then countered with a more affordable alternative.
pattern: counter + with + noun
When the prosecution presented its case, the defence team quickly countered each point with documents.
pattern: counter + noun + with + noun
- counter an argument
- counter criticism
- counter a proposal
- counter with a question
- counter by saying
Grammar Patterns
counter + noun phrase
counter + that-clause
counter + by + -ing
counter + with + noun
Usage Note
Common with 'with' to introduce what you offer as opposition ('countered with a question'), and with 'that'-clause for a stated rebuttal. The object is typically an argument, criticism, attack, or proposal.
Common Mistakes
2. in boxing, to hit an opponent back immediately after dodging or blocking their p
in boxing, to hit an opponent back immediately after dodging or blocking their punch
Mathieu blocked the left hook and countered with a quick right jab to the ribs.
pattern: counter + with + noun phrase
The champion waited for his opponent to throw first and then countered with devastating accuracy.
intransitive use
Sivan stepped inside the reach of her taller opponent and countered with a short uppercut.
After taking a hit to the shoulder, the boxer spun away and countered before the bell rang.
- counter a punch
- counter with a jab
- counter with a right hook
- counterpunch
the full verb form, less common than the noun
Grammar Patterns
counter + noun
counter with + noun
Usage Note
Almost exclusive to boxing commentary and training. The noun form 'counter' (sense 6 under noun) is closely related.
counter — adjective
1. moving or acting in the opposite direction or having an opposite effect; used to
moving or acting in the opposite direction or having an opposite effect; used to describe forces, actions, or proposals that work against something else
The government introduced counter measures to reduce the impact of rising inflation.
collocation: counter measures
A counter argument to that view is that renewable energy is already cheaper than coal.
collocation: counter argument
The lawyer prepared a counter proposal that addressed each of the client's concerns.
collocation: counter proposal
Environmental groups offered a counter report that challenged the factory's safety data.
- counter argument
- counter measure
- counter proposal
- counter force
- counter movement
- supporting
acting in favour of, not against
Grammar Patterns
counter + noun
Usage Note
The adjective is most often found as part of compound nouns: counter-argument, counter-measure, counter-proposal. These are sometimes written with a hyphen.
2. showing opposition or an unfriendly, resistant attitude toward someone or someth
showing opposition or an unfriendly, resistant attitude toward someone or something
Manager Lucas Chen's decision to cut overtime was counter to the team's spirit of cooperation.
pattern: be counter to [something]
The board found the proposal counter to the company's long-term environmental goals.
Any decision that is counter to the club's rules will be rejected by the committee.
Publishing false information is counter to the values of honest journalism that Ilan believes in.
- counter to
- act counter to
- run counter to
- be counter to
- opposed
similar meaning but 'opposed to' is more common in everyday language
- supportive of
showing agreement or backing
Grammar Patterns
be counter to [something]
Usage Note
Typically used in the fixed phrase 'counter to [something]', meaning 'in opposition to'. More formal than 'against'.
Common Mistakes
3. located on the opposite side; facing or lying directly across from something
located on the opposite side; facing or lying directly across from something
The counter side of the building gets afternoon light, while the front stays shaded.
collocation: counter side
From the counter bank of the river, the village looked peaceful and untouched.
The two armies faced each other from counter hills across the wide valley.
Shanti stood on the counter slope and watched the sunset over the distant mountains.
- counter side
- counter bank
- opposite
the standard modern term for this meaning; much more common
- same
on the identical side
Grammar Patterns
the counter side
Usage Note
Rare in modern English; 'opposite' is far more common for this meaning. This sense survives mainly in formal or literary descriptions of geography or architecture.
counter — adverb
1. in a direction or manner that goes against something or someone; in opposition
in a direction or manner that goes against something or someone; in opposition
The new policy runs counter to everything the organisation has stood for over the past decade.
pattern: run counter to [something]
Eve's decision to drop out of college went counter to her family's expectations and advice.
pattern: go counter to [something]
Acting counter to the doctor's instructions only made the patient's condition worse.
As a pacifist, Eric believed that violence runs counter to everything he stands for.
- run counter to
- go counter to
- act counter to
- contrary to
more common; 'contrary to expectations' is a frequent use
- in line with
in agreement with
Grammar Patterns
run/go counter to [something]
Usage Note
Almost always used in the fixed phrases 'run counter to' or 'go counter to'. Cannot stand alone as a sentence adverb (*'Counter, she decided to leave').
Common Mistakes
counter — prefix
1. attached to the front of a word to give it the sense of 'opposite', 'against', o
attached to the front of a word to give it the sense of 'opposite', 'against', or 'in response to', forming new words that describe contrary or retaliatory actions
The army launched a counterattack at dawn, catching the enemy by surprise.
counter- + attack = retaliatory attack
Each department in the company has a counterpart in the international branch.
counter- + part = matching person/thing
Skipping meals is counterproductive if your goal is to build muscle and stay healthy.
counter- + productive = having the opposite effect
Turn the knob counterclockwise to open the valve and let the water flow through.
counter- + clockwise = opposite direction
- counterattack
- counterpart
- counterproductive
- counterclockwise
- counterbalance
- countermeasure
- counterintelligence
- pro-
prefix meaning 'in favour of' (e.g. proactive, pro-democracy)
Grammar Patterns
counter- + noun
counter- + verb
counter- + adjective
Usage Note
A productive prefix in English. Common words formed with counter- include: counterattack, counterbalance, counterclockwise, countermeasure, counterpart, counterproductive, countdown (different origin). The hyphen is often dropped in well-established compounds (counterattack, counterpart) but may be kept in newer or less frequent formations.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- counteractverbC1
- counterattacknounC1
- counterbalanceverbC1
- counterclockwiseadverbB2
- counterfeitadjectiveB2
- counterpartnounB2
- counterproductiveadjectiveC1
- countverbA2
- countableadjectiveB1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
Counter, desk, table, and worktop all describe flat surfaces, but they are used in different contexts. A counter (noun sense 1) is specifically a service surface in a shop, bank, or restaurant where transactions happen — it belongs to the public or customer-facing area. A desk is a writing surface found in offices and homes, usually with drawers, used for paperwork or computer work. A table is a more general piece of furniture with legs and a flat top, used for eating, working, or placing objects. A worktop (British English) or counter (North American English, noun sense 2) refers specifically to the built-in kitchen surface where food is prepared. For example: 'Please collect your order at the counter' (service point), not 'at the desk'. 'She sat at her desk grading papers' (office work). 'They gathered around the dinner table' (mealtime). 'Chop the onions on the kitchen worktop' (food preparation).
Common collocations
Nouns
- argument
- proposal
- attack
- measure
- claim
- criticism
Adverbs
- directly
- quickly
- immediately
- successfully
- effectively
Phrases
- over the counter
- under the counter
- run counter to
- go counter to
Prepositions
- to
- with
- by
- against
Etymology
Counter comes from Latin 'computare' meaning 'to count', via Old French 'contoir' (counting table). Over time the word split: the 'counting table' became the service surface in shops, while the idea of 'opposing' came from Latin 'contra' (against), which merged into the same spelling through French influence.