quantity
gb/kwˈɔntɪti/ us/kwˈɔntɪti/
A2
English
~ 2200
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
quantity
1
amount or number of something
How much or how many of something there is.
Usage pattern:
a quantity of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'quantity' with 'quality'. 'Quantity' refers to amount, while 'quality' refers to how good something is.
Synonyms
amount (More general and common; can refer to uncountable things as well.)
|
number (Refers specifically to countable items rather than mass nouns.)
Antonyms
lack (Indicates the absence or shortage of an amount.)
Collocations
large quantity
|small quantity
|equal quantity
|sufficient quantity
|unknown quantity
Themes
measurement
|mathematics
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The recipe calls for a small quantity of sugar.
- We received a large quantity of orders this week.
- A certain quantity of water is needed to fill the tank.
- They measured the quantity of fuel left in the car.
- This product contains only a tiny quantity of salt.
Learner examples
- I bought a large quantity of rice.
- We need a small quantity of milk.
- There is a big quantity of people here.
- Please give me the right quantity of paper.
- The box has a small quantity of toys.
Noun
technical
B2
quantity
2
measurable value in science
A number or value that shows how much of something there is in science or math.
Usage pattern:
[adjective] quantity
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that in science, 'quantity' refers to something measurable, not just any amount.
Synonyms
magnitude (Often used in physics to refer to size or extent of a vector.)
Collocations
physical quantity
|vector quantity
|scalar quantity
Themes
science
|mathematics
|education
Examples
- Velocity is a vector quantity with both magnitude and direction.
- Mass is a physical quantity measured in kilograms.
- Temperature is a scalar quantity.
Learner examples
- Speed is a physical quantity.
- Mass is a type of quantity in science.
- Temperature is a simple quantity.
Noun
B1
quantity
3
unspecified amount
Some amount of something, but we don't know exactly how much.
Usage pattern:
a quantity of [something]
Synonyms
some amount (Very general and informal way to say an unspecified amount.)
Collocations
unknown quantity
Themes
daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The police found a quantity of stolen goods.
- There was a quantity of dust on the shelves.
- We have a quantity of data to analyze before making a decision.
Learner examples
- I saw a quantity of books on the table.
- There is a quantity of sand here.
- They found a quantity of old coins.
Grammar
Dictionary form
quantity
IPA
GB/kwˈɔntɪti/
US/kwˈɔntɪti/
Syllables & stress
quant - ity (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (quant)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: quantity
- Plural: quantities, quantity
Word family
Forms
quantities
noun
Core family
quantify
verb B2
quantitative
adjective C1
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
unquantifiable
adjective
Advanced or less common
Expressions
quantity over quality
1/kwˈɔntɪti ˈoʊvɚ kwˈɑləti/
fixed phrase
preference for more rather than better
Choosing to have more things instead of better things.
Examples
- The factory seems to value quantity over quality in its production.
- In writing, it's better to avoid choosing quantity over quality.
unknown quantity
1/ʌnnˈoʊn kwˈɔntɪti/
fixed phrase
Unpredictable due to being unfamiliar
A person or thing you do not know much about, so you cannot predict what they will do.
Examples
- The new player is an unknown quantity for the team.
- The new player is an unknown quantity to the team.
- In politics, she is still an unknown quantity.
- Her abilities are still an unknown quantity in this field.