count
gb/kˈaʊnt/ us/kˈaʊnt/
A1
English
~ 2800
Senses
0 senses
Verb
A1
action
1
to find the total number
To find how many people or things there are by adding them one by one.
Usage pattern:
to count [things]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'count' with 'account' when talking about numbers or reports.
Synonyms
enumerate (More formal; often used in academic or legal contexts.)
Antonyms
estimate (Means to guess a number without counting exactly.)
Collocations
count sheep
|count votes
|count money
|count days
|count people
Themes
math
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|education
Examples
- She counted the coins on the table.
- I counted ten people in the room.
- We need to count all the chairs before the event.
- The teacher asked the children to count from one to twenty.
Learner examples
- I can count to ten.
- Please count the apples.
- He counts the books on the shelf.
- They count the cars in the street.
Verb
B1
action
2
to regard as important
To think that something is important or matters.
Usage pattern:
to count [something] as [adjective/noun]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with the numerical meaning of 'count' and use it incorrectly when talking about importance.
Synonyms
matter (Informal and common; emphasizes importance rather than inclusion in a tally.)
Antonyms
ignore (Means to deliberately not consider something important.)
Collocations
count as
|count toward
|count for
Themes
opinions
|evaluation
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Every opinion counts in this discussion.
- Does this class count toward my degree?
- His years of experience count for a lot in this job.
Learner examples
- Your work counts here.
- My vote counts in the election.
- This mark counts toward my grade.
Noun
A2
quantity
3
total number of items
The number of people or things in a group.
Synonyms
tally (Informal; often used for scores or totals in games.)
Antonyms
zero (Represents no items at all, opposite of a positive count.)
Collocations
blood count
|head count
|final count
Themes
math
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|science
Examples
- The final vote count was announced last night.
- The teacher did a quick head count before the trip.
- My red blood cell count is normal.
Learner examples
- The count is twenty.
- I made a quick head count.
- The vote count is close.
Noun
B2
entity
4
a European nobleman rank
A man with a special title of nobility in some European countries.
Synonyms
earl (British equivalent title, though used differently in naming.)
Collocations
Count Dracula
|the Count of Monte Cristo
Themes
history
|society
|politics
|law
Examples
- The Count hosted a grand ball at his castle.
- Count Dracula is a famous fictional character.
- She married a French Count.
Learner examples
- The Count lives in a big house.
- Count Dracula is in many movies.
- He is a Count in Italy.
Grammar
Dictionary form
count
IPA
GB/kˈaʊnt/
US/kˈaʊnt/
Syllables & stress
count (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (count)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: count
- Plural: count, counts
Verb
- Base: count
- 3rd Person Singular: counts
- Present Participle: counting
- Past: counted
Word family
Expressions
count down
1/kˈaʊnt dˈaʊn/
phrasal verb
to say numbers backward before start
To say numbers backward until an event begins.
Examples
- We counted down from ten before launching the rocket.
- The crowd counted down to midnight on New Year’s Eve.
count on
1/kˈaʊnt ˈɔn/
phrasal verb
to rely on someone/something
To trust someone or something to help or do what is needed.
Examples
- You can always count on me to be there.
- We’re counting on good weather for the picnic.
lose count (of)
1/lˈuz kˈaʊnt əv/
idiom
to forget number while counting
To not remember how many times something has happened because it happens often or you stop keeping track.
Examples
- I’ve lost count of how many times he’s called today.
- She lost count after counting 200 stars.
make it count
1/mˈeɪk ˈɪt kˈaʊnt/
idiom
informal
use opportunity well for effect
To do something as well as possible so it has value or effect.
Examples
- This is your only chance, so make it count!
- He made every moment of his holiday count.