count
count — verb
- countpresent simple I / you / we / they
- countshe / she / it
- countedpast simple
- counting-ing form
1. to say numbers as they go up, one after another, or to add up items to arrive at
to say numbers as they go up, one after another, or to add up items to arrive at a final total
Élise taught her little brother to count from one to fifty before school started.
count from + number + to + number
The shopkeeper counted the money in the cash drawer at the end of her shift.
count + noun phrase (things being counted)
Selim asked the children to count how many red cars drove past the window.
count + wh- question word
Let me count how many guests have confirmed they are coming to the party.
count + the number of + noun phrase
The nurse counted the pills in each bottle before giving them to the patients.
- count from + number
- count to + number
- count how many
- count the number of
Grammar Patterns
count + noun phrase
count + wh- clause
count from + number + to + number
Usage Note
Often used with a question word such as 'how many' or 'how much' to focus on finding a specific total.
Common Mistakes
2. to find out how many people are present in a particular place, especially for of
to find out how many people are present in a particular place, especially for official records such as attendance or voting
After the fire drill, the teacher counted each student to make sure nobody was missing.
Volunteers stayed up all night counting the votes from the mayoral election.
count + votes (specific collocation)
The camp leader counts the children before and after every swimming session at the lake.
All the ballots were counted and the result announced this morning.
passive: be counted (ballots, votes)
- count votes
- count ballots
- count heads
- count attendance
- count passengers
Grammar Patterns
be counted (passive)
count + noun phrase (people)
Usage Note
Commonly used in the passive voice when reporting official counts such as ballots or attendance figures. Subject is often an institution, official, or person in charge.
Common Mistakes
3. to be important enough to be noticed or to have an effect on a situation or deci
to be important enough to be noticed or to have an effect on a situation or decision
Honesty counts more than money in a real friendship, as Talia soon discovered.
count more than — comparative structure
Every vote counts in a close election, so make sure you go to vote.
every + noun + counts — common collocation
Niran's opinion on music counts because he has worked as a sound engineer.
Mayumi cried over her exam results, but her coach told her that steady effort counts more than grades.
Experience counts for a lot in this profession, so new graduates often do internships first.
count for + noun phrase (a lot, nothing, little)
- every + noun + counts
- count for a lot / nothing / little
- count more than
- matter
more common in everyday speech; direct synonym
- carry weight
more formal, used when someone's opinion or argument has influence
- signify
more formal and slightly old-fashioned
Grammar Patterns
count + adverb (a lot, more, most)
count + for + noun
Usage Note
Never used in the passive voice. Cannot take a direct object. Often appears with 'every' (every second/minute/dollar counts) to emphasise each unit matters.
Common Mistakes
4. to have a particular opinion about someone or something, or to regard someone or
to have a particular opinion about someone or something, or to regard someone or something as belonging to a specific type or group
Ishaan counts his former teacher among the most inspiring people he has ever met.
count + noun + among + group
Food critics count this small noodle shop as one of the best in the city.
The coach counts hard work as the main reason for the team's recent success.
count + noun + as + noun
Nila counts herself lucky to have grown up in such a close and supportive family.
count + reflexive pronoun + adjective
A player who misses three practices is counted as absent for the season.
passive: be counted as + noun/adjective
- count as
- count among
- count yourself lucky / fortunate
- count someone as a friend / member / colleague
Grammar Patterns
count + noun phrase + as + noun/adjective
count + noun phrase + among + noun phrase
count + reflexive pronoun + adjective
be counted as + noun/adjective
Usage Note
Frequently used with 'as' to introduce the description ('count someone as a friend'). The passive form ('is counted as') is common when describing categories or official classifications. Distinguish from sense 3: sense 4 requires an opinion about a specific person or thing, while sense 3 is about general importance.
Common Mistakes
5. to include someone or something in a calculation or total when adding things up
to include someone or something in a calculation or total when adding things up
Did you count the delivery fee when you worked out the order total?
Twelve people are coming to dinner, not counting the children at a separate table.
not counting + noun — common excluding structure
Jenna forgot to count her night shifts when she calculated her monthly earnings.
The ticket price counts the bus ride from the airport, so you pay no extra.
- not counting
- counting
- count in / count out
Grammar Patterns
count + noun phrase
not counting + noun phrase
counting + noun phrase (participle)
Usage Note
Common in the participial forms 'counting' and 'not counting' to add or exclude items from a total. This sense often appears in price and budget contexts.
Common Mistakes
count on
phrasal verbto trust someone to do what you need them to do, or to feel sure that something will happen
Renata knows she can count on her best friend to help her move to a new apartment this weekend.
You can count on the train being late during the holiday season, so plan your trip carefully.
count up
phrasal verbto add things together to find the total number or amount
The cashier counted up all the money in the till at the end of the long day.
Dewi counted up the hours she had spent volunteering and was surprised that it was over two hundred.
count towards
phrasal verbto be part of what is needed in order to achieve or complete something
The final exam counts towards seventy percent of the total grade for this course.
Every hour of practice counts towards the total training time required for the competition.
count against
phrasal verbTo be a disadvantage for someone or something.
His lack of experience may count against him in the interview.
The team's poor defense counted against them in the final match.
count down
phrasal verbTo wait for an event by counting backwards from a number.
The children are counting down the days until summer vacation.
We counted down from ten before the rocket launched.
count in
phrasal verbTo include someone in an activity or plan.
If you're going to the movies, count me in.
Sara counted her brother in for the game night.
count out
phrasal verbTo exclude someone from an activity or plan.
Count me out of the hiking trip; I have other plans.
They counted him out of the team because of his injury.
count toward
phrasal verbTo be part of a total or goal.
Your homework grades count toward your final score.
Every donation counts toward our fundraising target.
count your blessings
idiomto make yourself feel better by thinking about the good things in your life instead of the bad ones
Whenever David feels upset about his job, he takes a moment to count his blessings at home.
The nurse told the worried patient to count his blessings and focus on how much his health had improved.
count the cost
idiomto experience the negative results of a mistake, accident, or bad decision over time
The company ignored safety warnings for years and is now counting the cost after a serious factory fire.
Tyler stayed up late every night playing games and soon counted the cost when his grades dropped badly.
count sheep
idiomto imagine sheep jumping over a fence and count them, as a mental trick to help yourself fall asleep
Joshua could not fall asleep, so he tried counting sheep until he finally dozed off at two in the morning.
When Megan feels anxious at bedtime, counting sheep helps her relax and drift off to sleep.
used to warn someone not to be too confident that something will be successful before it actually happens
Talia felt sure she would get the job, but her mother warned her not to count her chickens before they hatched.
The team was already planning their victory party, but the coach told them not to count their chickens yet.
to publicly state your support for a particular idea, group, or cause, especially when it is difficult or unpopular
When the library faced closure, local parents stood up and were counted at the town hall meeting.
It is time for every citizen who cares about clean water to stand up and be counted in the public debate.
who's counting?
idiomused humorously to say that you do not care about the exact number of something, often when the amount is large or unimportant
Amira has watched that movie at least ten times this month — but who is counting?
Reuben said he had told me that story a hundred times before, and then added with a grin, but who is counting?
…and counting
idiomUsed to indicate that a number is still increasing.
The charity has raised $50,000 so far, and counting.
Our team has won ten games in a row, and counting.
Used to emphasize that the number of people or things is very small.
I can count the times I've been late on one hand.
Maya can count her close friends on the fingers of one hand.
To experience the negative consequences of a mistake or event.
After the storm, the town counted the cost of the damage.
He ignored the warnings and now counts the cost of his decision.
You should not assume that something will happen before it actually does.
She might get the job, but don't count your chickens.
We haven't won yet, so let's not count our chickens.
who’s counting?
idiomUsed to say that the exact number does not matter.
I've told you a hundred times, but who's counting?
He's been late five times this week, but who's counting?
count — noun
- countsingular
- countsplural
1. the process of checking how many things or people there are in a group by adding
the process of checking how many things or people there are in a group by adding them up, or the final number that is found after doing this
The final count showed that over 3,000 people had attended the festival.
Keep a careful count of how many tickets you sell each day.
collocation: keep a count of
By my count, we have already spent more than half of our travel budget.
collocation: by my count
The librarian did a quick count of the books returned that morning.
Every year the park ranger takes a count of deer living in the forest.
- keep a count
- by my count
- lose count
- final count
- take a count
- do a count
Usage Note
Common in fixed phrases such as 'keep count', 'lose count', and 'by my count'. The phrase 'take a count' is used when someone officially counts a group.
Common Mistakes
2. the activity of adding up all ballots cast during an election so the winning can
the activity of adding up all ballots cast during an election so the winning candidate or party can be announced
The vote count continued late into the night at the town hall.
collocation: vote count
Volunteers stayed until midnight to finish the count of all postal ballots.
Christopher watched the election count on television with his family.
The first count showed a very small difference between the two parties.
- vote count
- election count
- final count
- first count
- demand a recount
Usage Note
Often used with 'vote' or 'election' as a modifier: 'vote count', 'election count'. A 'recount' is a second count done when the result is very close.
Common Mistakes
3. an official record that tells you how many people or things there are in a place
an official record that tells you how many people or things there are in a place, or how often an event occurs
The museum keeps a daily count of visitors at the main entrance.
collocation: keep a count of
According to the official count, the factory produces around 2,000 boxes each hour.
The teacher's count showed that only 18 students came to class that morning.
A full count of library members is published every year in the annual report.
- keep a count of
- official count
- daily count
- full count
Usage Note
Often appears with 'keep', 'take', or 'do' to describe the action of recording something. Can also refer to a published figure such as an official census count.
Common Mistakes
4. used only in the fixed expression 'lose count' — after something occurs a great
used only in the fixed expression 'lose count' — after something occurs a great many times, you stop keeping track and can no longer say exactly how often it has happened
I have lost count of how many times Rin has called me today.
phrase: lose count of
Sirin has visited Japan so many times that she has lost count.
The children had lost count of the sheep they spotted from the train window.
Hamza has lost count of the number of emails he sends each week.
- lose count
- lose count of
- not keep track
less formal and more general — can be used for any information, not just repeated events
Grammar Patterns
lose count of + noun phrase
Usage Note
This sense only exists in the fixed expression 'lose count'. It always lacks the article — never write 'lose the count'. The object after 'of' can be a noun phrase ('lose count of the reasons') or a clause ('lose count of how many times').
Common Mistakes
5. the amount of a particular substance or type of cell found in a sample after sci
the amount of a particular substance or type of cell found in a sample after scientific measurement, such as the number of red cells in a drop of blood or the number of pollen grains in the air
The doctor ordered a blood count to check the patient's white cell levels.
collocation: blood count
The pollen count is high today, so Ishaan stayed inside to avoid sneezing.
collocation: pollen count
A low red blood cell count can make a person feel very tired and weak.
The lab reported a higher bacteria count in the water than is permitted by law.
Doctors monitored the virus count in Indra's blood over several weeks of treatment.
- blood count
- pollen count
- cell count
- bacteria count
- virus count
- sperm count
- level
a more general word for the amount of a substance, not necessarily obtained by counting
- concentration
more technical — the amount of a substance relative to the total volume
Usage Note
Frequently appears in compound nouns: 'blood count', 'pollen count', 'cell count', 'sperm count', 'bacteria count'. The modifier before 'count' names the substance being measured.
Common Mistakes
6. the moment when someone has spoken a particular number while counting, especiall
the moment when someone has spoken a particular number while counting, especially to mark when an action should happen
The children were told to hold their breath until the count of twenty.
pattern: until the count of [number]
At the count of three, everyone had to start running toward the finish line.
The diver waited for the count of five before jumping into the cold pool.
Piotr closed his eyes and tried to fall asleep before the count of a hundred.
- at the count of
- until the count of
- before the count of
- the count of three
- the count of ten
Grammar Patterns
at the count of + number
at a count of + number
Usage Note
Almost always appears in prepositional phrases: 'at the count of', 'until the count of', 'before the count of'. The number following 'count' is typically a small round number or 'a hundred'.
7. in boxing, the ten-second count a referee starts when an athlete hits the mat du
in boxing, the ten-second count a referee starts when an athlete hits the mat during a match. If the fallen fighter cannot stand again before the official reaches ten, the bout ends with the other contestant declared the winner.
The referee reached the count of eight before Ziad managed to stand up again.
count of [number]; boxer rises before ten
Tunde was saved by the bell just as the referee's count hit ten.
count hits ten; end of match
The crowd held their breath as the count began after the boxer hit the canvas.
Boxers must get up before the referee finishes the count of ten.
Gita watched from ringside as the referee started the count over the fallen fighter.
the referee starts / begins the count
- the count of ten
- reach the count
- finish the count
- beat the count
- take the full count
- knockout count
specifies that the count leads directly to a KO result
- ten-count
less common; names the exact number of seconds called
Usage Note
Almost always used with the definite article: the count. Frequently paired with verbs like reach, finish, begin, start.
Common Mistakes
8. in baseball, the current tally of pitches delivered to a batter, separated into
in baseball, the current tally of pitches delivered to a batter, separated into balls and strikes for their time at the plate. The count is voiced with balls first — for example, 'three and two' means three balls.
The batter faced a full count of three balls and two strikes.
full count = three balls, two strikes
With the count at two balls and one strike, Takeshi waited for a fastball.
count at [number] + [number]
Pitchers usually have the advantage when the count is in their favour.
Allison checked the count on the scoreboard before stepping into the batter's box.
A hitter protects the plate when the count reaches two strikes.
count reaches [number] strikes
- full count
- a count of [X] balls and [Y] strikes
- check the count
- the count is in [someone's] favour
- protect the plate with two strikes
- ball-strike count
explicitly names both elements; common in coaching contexts
Usage Note
Often modified by adjectives: full count (3 balls, 2 strikes), even count (same number of balls and strikes), or a count in someone's favour.
9. a noble title in several European countries for a man whose social rank is simil
a noble title in several European countries for a man whose social rank is similar to that of an earl in Britain. This title is below a duke and above a baron.
The count hosted a formal dinner at his palace in the Italian countryside.
Astrid read a historical novel about a French count who married a commoner.
A count outranks a baron but not a duke or a marquis.
count outranks [lower title] but not [higher title]
The count and his wife welcomed the visiting ambassador to their estate in Provence.
The title of count had been in that family for over two hundred years.
the title of count
- the title of count
- Count [Name]
- a French / Italian / Spanish count
- a count outranks [title]
- the count and countess
- earl
the British equivalent rank; used specifically for UK nobility rather than continental European
Usage Note
Used as a title before the name (e.g. Count Tolstoy). The female equivalent is countess. This sense is always a countable noun and is typically preceded by the or a.
Common Mistakes
10. one of the separate offences itemised in a formal legal charge. A single indictm
one of the separate offences itemised in a formal legal charge. A single indictment may list several counts, each accusing the defendant of a distinct unlawful act.
The jury found the defendant guilty on all three counts of theft.
guilty on [number] count(s) of [crime]
Eve was arrested on a single count of breaking and entering.
The prosecutor added another count of fraud during the trial proceedings.
The accused driver faced a count of reckless driving after the accident on the highway.
a count of [crime name]
Each count of the indictment was read aloud by the court clerk.
- count of [crime name]
- guilty on [number] count(s)
- face a count of
- each count of the indictment
- drop a count
- charge
broader term; a charge may refer to the whole accusation while a count is one specific item within it
- allegation
more general; does not carry the same formal legal structure as 'count'
Usage Note
Typically used with a number or quantifier (three counts, several counts, each count) followed by of and the name of the offence. Frequently appears in legal documents and news reports about criminal trials.
Common Mistakes
11. a particular issue, point, or opinion being discussed or argued about in a conve
a particular issue, point, or opinion being discussed or argued about in a conversation, debate, or formal discussion. People often say they agree or disagree on a given count.
On that count, Alessia and I see things exactly the same way.
on that count
The senator disagreed with his opponent on several important counts during the debate.
on [number] count(s)
Heloísa made a strong case, but on the final count the panel voted against her.
The two parties agree on every count except the budget proposal for education.
agree / disagree on every count
Tuan raised an interesting point on that count during the town hall meeting.
- on that count
- on every count
- on all counts
- agree on a count
- disagree on a count
Usage Note
Almost always used in the prepositional phrase on + (that / this / a / another / several) + count. The phrase on all counts means 'in every respect' or 'on every point'.
Common Mistakes
count — collocation
1. used when someone regards themselves as being in a particular (usually good) sit
used when someone regards themselves as being in a particular (usually good) situation or having a positive quality — for instance, if you say you count yourself lucky after a narrow escape, you believe fortune was on your side.
After the car accident, the Chang family counted themselves lucky to be alive.
counted themselves lucky — reflexive + adjective pattern
Élise counts herself fortunate to have found such a supportive mentor.
counts herself fortunate — possessive reflexive
Ayesha counted herself lucky that her flight landed before the snowstorm began.
counted herself lucky + that-clause
The firefighters counted themselves blessed when the children were found safe.
Obi counted himself fortunate after his lost wallet was returned with everything inside.
- count yourself lucky
- count yourself fortunate
- count yourself blessed
- count yourself privileged
- count yourself a success
- count yourself an expert
- consider yourself
More general and less idiomatic; works with any adjective, not just positive ones (consider yourself warned vs. count yourself lucky).
- regard yourself
Slightly more formal; focuses on viewpoint rather than the idea of being fortunate.
- deem yourself
More formal and less common in everyday speech; suggests a deliberate judgment.
Grammar Patterns
count + reflexive pronoun + adjective
count + reflexive pronoun + that-clause
count + reflexive pronoun + noun phrase
Usage Note
Always used with a reflexive pronoun (yourself, himself, herself, themselves). Common adjectives in this pattern include lucky, fortunate, blessed, and privileged.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- countableadjectiveB1
- uncountableadjectiveB1
- countlessadjectiveB2
- recountverbB2
- counternounB1
- countdownnounB2
- countessnounC1
- countynounB1
- accountnounB1
- accountantnounB2
- recountnounB2
- countable nounnoun_phraseB1
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
All four verbs involve working with numbers, but they focus on different actions. 'Count' is the most general and concrete — you say numbers in order or add up physical items one by one ('count the coins in your pocket'). 'Calculate' is more abstract and technical, involving formulas, measurements, or mathematical operations ('calculate the area of a circle'). 'Tally' means to keep a running record of items as they are added, often on paper or a board ('tally the scores during a game'). 'Total' focuses on the final addition step rather than the ongoing process ('total the expenses at the end of the month'). Use 'count' for everyday itemising, 'calculate' for maths, 'tally' for ongoing records, and 'total' for final sums.
Common collocations
Nouns
- head count
- vote count
- blood count
- pollen count
- word count
- body count
- calorie count
Phrases
- keep count (of)
- lose count (of)
- by my count
- on all counts
- on that count
- count me in / count me out
- down for the count
- out for the count
- take the count
- it's the thought that counts
Prepositions
- count from [number] to [number]
- count of [something]
- count on [someone]
- count towards [a goal]
Etymology
The word 'count' arrived in English through two separate historical paths. The number-related meanings come from Latin 'computare' (to calculate, put together), which passed through Old French 'conter/compter' into Middle English as 'counten'. The noble title meaning comes from a different Latin root: 'comes' (companion, attendant), which in the late Roman Empire became a court title and later a rank of nobility. This entered English via Old French 'conte' and was used for continental European nobles, while the British equivalent 'earl' remained the native term. The two distinct etymological paths explain why the same spelling covers both arithmetic and aristocratic meanings.