to count

Examples

• All

• That's all that counts-- what you think of yourself.

  Gable and Lombard (1976)

• Making such a standard work will require rethinking what counts as clean energy.

  Academic text (2011)

• So make every class count and do your best.

  The Math Sorcerer

• I get to pick what what is going to count for me.

  Gregory B. Sadler - That Philosophy Guy

• But this is the stuff that counts, so make it worth it.

  Apollonia Ponti

• Well, it's the thought that counts.

  Hell of a Summer (2023)

• Sometimes, it seems to me, the "yes" counts, and counts for more than the "no."

  Academic text (1999)

• I suppose being your father doesn't count, huh?

  Armageddon (1998)

• Time and space don't count anymore, even though they still exist.

  Academic text (2013)

• Every action we take to help the environment really counts in the long run.

Synonyms

M

to matter

vsto count

∞ 1.4

To be important or make a difference

is used similarly but also includes having practical effect or value

M

to matter to

vsto count

236 2.4

To be important to someone or something

is more general and applies importance without a specific person or thing

Idioms

C

count me in

• Informal

19 3.3

A way to say you want to join an activity

C

to count one's blessings

• Informal

17 4.1

To be thankful for the good things in your life

D

down for the count

• Informal

5 8.1

Completely unable to move or continue because of extreme tiredness

C

to count on one hand

• Informal

4 4.9

To have a very small number of people or things

K

to knock down for the count

• Informal

8.2

To be hit so hard that you fall and cannot get up

Phrasal Verbs

C

to count on

700 1.8

To trust a person or thing to do what you need

C

to count down

40 3.3

To say numbers backwards to zero before an event starts

C

to count off

3 4.1

To call out numbers in order so people take their places

C

to count sheep

• Informal

1 4.2

To imagine sheep jumping over a fence to help you sleep

T

to take the count

1 5.3

To add up votes to find the total

C

to count out

• Specialized

1 6.6

To count to ten to say a boxer has lost when they cannot get up

C

to count to five

• Informal

1 3.0

Pause and calm yourself by counting from one to five before reacting

C

to count noses

• Informal

1 3.6

To check how many people are present

T

to take the count

• Specialized

8.8

To stay on the floor while the referee counts to ten and lose the fight

Compounds

B

body count

23 5.1

The number of people killed in a battle or attack

H

head count

17 3.4

The number of people present in a group or at an event

S

sperm count

14 3.5

The amount of sperm in semen used to check male fertility

B

blood count

• Specialized

10 3.0

A medical test that measures red and white blood cells and platelets in a blood sample

B

body count

• NSFW

4 8.8

The number of people someone has had sex with

P

pollen count

• Specialized

1 3.3

A number that shows how much pollen is in the air and the risk of allergies

C

complete blood count

• Specialized

3.9

A medical test that counts red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in a blood sample

C

count noun

• Specialized

3.9

A word for a person or thing you can count, like a book

C

count palatine

• Archaic

9.9

A noble who rules a small area with royal power in medieval Europe

C

count per minute

3.0

Number of events that happen in one minute

D

differential blood count

• Specialized

5.2

A test that counts each type of white blood cell in a small blood sample

N

nose count

• US

4.1

A quick check of how many people are present to see attendance or support

How Important

to dominate

213 3.8

to overshadow

48 5.9

to outbalance

1 7.1

to outweigh

75 4.2

to turn the scale

7.0

to count

406 3.2

to matter

∞ 1.4

Surface Forms

Etymology