counter
gb/kˈaʊntɚ/ us/kˈaʊntɚ/
A2
English
~ 2300
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Flat surface for work or service
A long, flat table-like area where you work, serve food, or show things for sale.
Usage pattern:
[someone] stands at the counter
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'counter' with 'table'; a counter is often fixed and used for work or service, not general dining.
Synonyms
bar (Often used in places serving drinks; may be narrower in meaning.)
|
bench (Used in Australian/British English for kitchen surfaces.)
Collocations
kitchen counter
|across the counter
|behind the counter
|shop counter
Themes
daily life
|food
|shopping
|daily_life
|food_drink
|business
Examples
- She placed her groceries on the counter.
- The bartender wiped down the counter before serving the next customer.
- He leaned across the counter to speak to the cashier.
Learner examples
- I put the bread on the counter.
- The man is standing at the counter.
- She works behind the counter in a cafe.
Verb
B2
action
2
Respond to oppose or reduce effect
To do something or say something to stop or reduce another action or opinion.
Usage pattern:
to counter [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse with 'encounter'; 'counter' here means act against, not meet.
Synonyms
oppose (General term for resisting; may be stronger in tone.)
|
refute (Specifically means proving something wrong; more formal.)
Antonyms
support (Means to agree with or help instead of opposing.)
Collocations
counter an argument
|counter a threat
|counter criticism
|counter a claim
Themes
discussion
|conflict
|strategy
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The government introduced measures to counter the rise in prices.
- She quickly countered his criticism with evidence.
- They deployed troops to counter the enemy advance.
Learner examples
- He spoke to counter her idea.
- We must act to counter the danger.
- She gave facts to counter his words.
Noun
B1
entity
3
Device that counts things or events
A small machine that shows a number of times something happens or how many things there are.
Synonyms
tally counter (Specifically refers to handheld manual devices for counting.)
Collocations
electric counter
|click counter
|water counter
Themes
technology
|measurement
|science
Examples
- The website has a visitor counter at the bottom of the page.
- The machine’s counter showed that 500 bottles had been filled.
- He used a handheld counter to track people entering the hall.
Learner examples
- The counter shows 100 visitors.
- I used a counter to count cars.
- The machine has a counter for bottles.
adjective
B2
property
4
Opposing or reversing an action
Doing the opposite of something else or working against it.
Synonyms
opposing (General term for being against something.)
Antonyms
supportive (Means giving help or approval instead of opposing.)
Collocations
counter attack
|counter measure
|counter proposal
Themes
conflict
|strategy
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- They launched a counter attack at dawn.
- The company made a counter offer during negotiations.
- Counter measures were taken to prevent further damage.
Learner examples
- The army made a counter attack.
- We gave a counter offer for the house.
- They planned counter measures against the virus.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
5
Raised shoe part supporting heel
The hard part at the back of a shoe that holds your heel in place.
Themes
clothing
Examples
- The shoe’s counter provides extra support for walking.
- A damaged heel counter can cause discomfort.
- High-quality boots have reinforced counters.
Learner examples
- The shoe has a strong counter.
- My heel rests on the shoe’s counter.
- A broken counter makes walking hard.
Grammar
Dictionary form
counter
IPA
GB/kˈaʊntɚ/
US/kˈaʊntɚ/
Syllables & stress
counter (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (counter)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: counter
Noun
- Base: counter
- Plural: counters
Verb
- Base: counter
- 3rd Person Singular: counters
- Present Participle: countering
- Past: countered
Word family
Forms
counters
noun
countering
verb
countered
verb
Related words
countertop
noun
Expressions
counter argument
1/kˈaʊntɚ ˈɑɹɡjəmənt/
fixed phrase
Opposing argument in discussion
A reason you give to show another idea is wrong.
Examples
- Her main counter argument was that the data was outdated.
- He listened carefully before giving his counter argument.
counter attack
1/kˈaʊntɚ ətˈæk/
fixed phrase
Attack made in response to another attack
An attack done after someone attacks you first.
Examples
- They launched a strong counter attack after losing ground.
- The team scored two goals in a quick counter attack.
go to the counter
1/ɡˈoʊ tə ðə kˈaʊntɚ/
fixed phrase
Move toward service surface
Walk to where you pay or get served in a shop or cafe.
Examples
- Please go to the counter to pay for your meal.
- Customers should go to the counter for assistance.
over the counter
1/ˈoʊvɚ ðə kˈaʊntɚ/
fixed phrase
Sold without prescription
You can buy it without a doctor's note.
Examples
- You can buy this medicine over the counter.
- Most vitamins are sold over the counter at pharmacies.