count

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitive or intransitive

   To find the total number of things by saying numbers in order.

   Grammar: Can take an object (count the money) or be used without one (count to ten).

   Patterns

   • count something
   • count to a number
   • count up something

   She counted the chairs to make sure there were enough.

   The child can count to twenty.

   Please count the votes carefully.

2. 2verbintransitive

   To be important or to have influence in a situation.

   Grammar: No object; often used in phrases like 'every vote counts'.

   Patterns

   • something counts
   • count for something

   In a close election, every vote counts.

   Your opinion really counts in this decision.

   It's not just about winning; how you play counts too.

3. 3nouncountable

   The act of counting or the total number reached.

   Grammar: Countable: a count, the count.

   Patterns

   • a count of something
   • the final count
   • keep count

   The final count showed that she had won by ten votes.

   Keep count of how many times you practice.

   The count of visitors was higher than expected.

4. 4nouncountable

   A nobleman in some European countries, ranking above a baron.

   Grammar: Countable; often used as a title before a name.

   Patterns

   • Count somebody
   • the Count of somewhere

   The Count of Monte Cristo is a famous novel.

   He inherited the title of count from his father.

   The count and his family lived in a large castle.

Word forms

Common combinations

count on someone

You can always count on her to help.

count something up

He counted up the total cost.

keep count

I lost count of how many times he called.

count for something

Her experience counts for a lot in this job.

count down

The crowd counted down the seconds to midnight.

Synonyms and how they differ

calculate

To calculate is to work out a number using math; to count is to say numbers in order to find a total.

matter

To matter means to be important; to count can also mean this, but 'count' is often used in more specific phrases like 'every vote counts'.

tally

To tally means to count or record a total, often in a list; it is more formal than count.

Opposites

Word family

countable adjective

Able to be counted.

countless adjective

Too many to count.

counter noun

A person or thing that counts, or a small disk used in games.

countdown noun

The act of counting backwards to zero.

Commonly confused: count or county?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “count”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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