count

1 of 3

verb

ˈkau̇nt How to pronounce count (audio)
 dialectal  ˈkyau̇nt
counted; counting; counts

transitive verb

1
a
: to indicate or name by units or groups so as to find the total number of units involved : number
Count the pages of the manuscript.
b
: to name the numbers in order up to and including
Count ten.
c
: to include in a tallying and reckoning
about 100 present, counting children
d
: to call aloud (beats or time units)
Count cadence.
Count the eighth notes.
2
a
: consider, account
count oneself lucky
b
: to record as of an opinion or persuasion
Count me as uncommitted.
3
: to include or exclude by or as if by counting
Count me in.

intransitive verb

1
a
: to recite or indicate the numbers in order by units or groups
count by fives
b
: to count the units in a group
She was interrupted while she was counting.
2
: to rely or depend on someone or something
used with on
He counted on his parents to help with the expenses.
3
: add, total
It counts up to a sizable amount.
4
a
: to have value or significance
These are the people who really count.
His opinions don't count for much.
b
: to deserve to be regarded or considered
a job so easy it hardly counts as work

see also count out

count

2 of 3

noun (1)

plural counts
1
a
: the action or process of counting
b
: a total obtained by counting : tally
2
3
a
: allegation, charge
specifically : one separately stating the cause of action or prosecution in a legal declaration or indictment
guilty on all counts
b
: a specific point under consideration : issue
disagreeing on this count
4
: the total number of individual things in a given unit or sample obtained by counting all or a subsample of them
bacteria count
5
a
: the calling off of the seconds from one to ten when a boxer has been knocked down
He took a count of nine before getting up.
see also down for the count, take the count
b
: the number of balls and strikes charged to a baseball batter during one turn
The count stood at 3 and 2.
c
: score
tied the count with a minute to play
6
a
: a measurement of the thickness or fineness of yarn by determining the number of hanks or yards per pound it produces
b
: the number of threads per square inch in a cloth

count

3 of 3

noun (2)

: a European nobleman whose rank corresponds to that of a British earl
Phrases
and counting
: with more to come
in business for 50 years and counting
count heads or count noses
: to count the number present
count on
: to look forward to as certain : anticipate
counted on winning

Examples of count in a Sentence

Verb Count the plates on the table. She made sure to count her change. Count how many fingers I am holding up. He counted seven deer in the field. There are 10 days left until the end of school, counting from today. Keep counting until there are no more left to count. Don't interrupt me. I'm counting. Can your daughter count yet? There will be 150 people at the wedding, not counting children. Noun (1) my count for the number of bird species and subspecies that visited the sanctuary that weekend was 43 she's been charged with two counts of larceny
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The study didn't disclose what was counted as a visitor. Lucas Dufalla, arkansasonline.com, 22 Oct. 2024 Three potentially decisive states — Arizona, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — are notoriously slow at counting. Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2024
Noun
Mayers, 36, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2024 The judge stated that the lawsuit could continue on one count, that Martinez’s claimed willful, wanton and reckless misconduct caused Nixon’s death. Daniel Tepfer, Connecticut Post, 22 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for count 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'count.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French cunter, counter, from Latin computare, from com- + putare to consider

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Anglo-French cunte, from Late Latin comit-, comes, from Latin, companion, one of the imperial court, from com- + ire to go — more at issue entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of count was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near count

Cite this Entry

“Count.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/count. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

count

1 of 3 verb
1
a
: to add one by one so as to find the total number of a group of things
count the apples in a box
b
: to name the consecutive numbers up to and including
count ten
c
: to recite the numbers one by one or by groups
count to one hundred by fives
d
: to include in a tally
forty present, counting children
2
a
: consider sense 3
count myself lucky
b
: to include or leave out by or as if by counting
count me in
count me out
3
a
: to have value or importance
every vote counts
b
: to deserve to be regarded or considered
a job so easy it hardly counts as work
countable
-ə-bəl
adjective

count

2 of 3 noun
1
a
: the act or process of counting
b
: a total obtained by counting : tally
2
: a charge of wrongdoing
especially : a separate item in a legal accusation
guilty on all counts
3
: the number of balls and strikes charged to a baseball batter during one turn

count

3 of 3 noun
: a European nobleman whose rank is equal to that of a British earl
Etymology

Verb

Middle English counten "to add one by one," from early French counter (same meaning), derived from Latin computare "to count, compute" — related to account, compute

Noun

from early French cunte "nobleman," derived from Latin comes "companion, member of a royal court," literally, "one who goes with another," from com- "with" and -es, a form of ire "to go" — related to county, itinerary

Medical Definition

count

1 of 2 transitive verb
: to indicate or name by units or groups so as to find the total number of units involved

count

2 of 2 noun
1
a
: the action or process of counting
b
: a total obtained by counting
2
: the total number of individual things in a given unit or sample (as of blood) obtained by counting all or a subsample of them see addis count, blood count, cell count, red blood count, white count

Legal Definition

count

noun
: charge
specifically : a charge (as in a complaint or indictment) that separately states a cause of action or especially offense
guilty on all counts

More from Merriam-Webster on count

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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