What is count? Pronunciation and usage in English

count means . Learn how to pronounce and use count through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of count

countverb

/kaʊnt/
Definition & pronunciation of count

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "count" in English. There are a couple of common pronunciations, and they're subtle differences!

1. The Most Common Pronunciation (American English):

  • Sounds like: "kent"
  • Breakdown:
    • "c": Pronounced like the "c" in "cat" – a quick, sharp sound.
    • "ou": Pronounced like the "u" in "but" or "cut" – a short, uh-like sound.
    • "nt": Pronounced as one syllable – like "kent." The "t" is very soft and blends into the "n."

2. The British English Pronunciation:

  • Sounds like: "count" (rhymes with "amount")
  • Breakdown:
    • "c": Pronounced like the "c" in "city" – a softer, more drawn-out sound.
    • "ou": Pronounced like the "ou" in "house" – a long, open "oo" sound.
    • "nt": Pronounced as two separate syllables – "count" (like "count").

Here's a quick way to remember:

  • American: Think of the word "kent" – it's a familiar word.
  • British: Think of "amount" – that's the sound.

Resources for Hearing the Pronunciation:

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • Where are you from? (e.g., United States, United Kingdom, Australia, etc.) – This will help me determine which pronunciation is most likely expected.

Usage and examples with the word count in English

Let's break down how to use the word "count" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with multiple meanings and uses! Here's a breakdown, categorized for clarity:

1. Counting (The Basic Meaning - Numeration)

  • As a Verb: This is the most common meaning – to determine the number of things.
    • Simple Counting: "I need to count the apples in the basket."
    • Counting Up: "Let's count from one to ten."
    • Counting Down: "He was counting down the seconds until the fireworks started."
    • Counting as You Go: "She was counting her money as she spent it."

2. Counting (As a Noun – A Tool for Counting)

  • The Object: "I used a counter to weigh the flour." (A small table used for weighing)
  • A Number/Quantity: "The count of the refugees was lower than expected." (Referring to the number of refugees)

3. “Count on” – Reliability & Expectation

  • "Count on me": This is an idiom meaning "I will be reliable and help you." “Can I count on you to pick me up?”
  • "Count on something": 'I'm counting on you to finish the report by tomorrow.' – Expecting something to happen.

4. “Count for” – Importance or Value

  • "It counts for nothing": This means it doesn't matter or has no value. “Your excuses count for nothing now.”
  • "Count for a lot": This means it’s very important. “His support counted for a lot in the election.”

5. “Count with” - Working Together (Less Common)

  • "Count with someone" meaning to work together or collaborate. "Let's count with each other to make this project a success."

6. Counting (As a Verb – Analyzing/Evaluating)

  • To Assess/Evaluate: "The detective was counting all the clues to solve the mystery." (Looking at all the pieces of information)
  • To Consider/Take into Account: “Don't count on getting a raise this year – the company is struggling.” (Considering the situation)

7. Phrasal Verbs with “Count”

  • Count out: To distribute items one by one. "The teacher counted out the pencils."
  • Count up: To total something. “Let's count up the expenses.”
  • Count on (someone): To rely on someone. – As discussed above.

Here’s a table summarizing the different uses:

Part of Speech Meaning Example
Verb To determine number "I'll count the books."
Noun A counting tool "Use a counter to measure ingredients."
Verb (Idiom) To be reliable "You can count on me."
Verb (Idiom) To be important/significant "His advice counted for a lot."
Verb To analyze/assess "He was counting the evidence."

Resources for Further Learning:

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  • What are you trying to do with the word "count"? (e.g., write a story, answer a question on a test, etc.)

Synonyms for the word count

Idioms of the word count

…and counting
used to say that a total is continuing to increase
  • The movie's ticket sales add up to $39 million, and counting.
be able to count somebody/something on (the fingers of) one hand
used to say that the total number of somebody/something is very small
  • She could count on the fingers of one hand the people she actually enjoyed being with.
  • Although she knew lots of people, she could count her friends on the fingers of one hand.
count your blessings
to be grateful for the good things in your life
    count the cost (of something)
    to feel the bad effects of a mistake, an accident, etc.
    • The town is now counting the cost of its failure to provide adequate flood protection.
    count sheep
    to imagine that sheep are jumping over a fence and to count them, as a way of getting to sleep
      don’t count your chickens (before they are hatched)
      (saying)you should not be too confident that something will be successful, because something may still go wrong
        stand up and be counted
        to say publicly that you support somebody or you agree with something
        • Everyone needs to stand up and be counted in order to make them see the strength of our conviction.
        who’s counting?
        (informal)used to say that you do not care how many times something happens
        • I've seen the film five times, but who's counting?

        Practice with vocabulary count

        Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

        1. Please ____ the total number of attendees before sending out the final confirmation.
        2. In this competitive market, every innovative idea truly ____.
        3. The project manager asked us to ____ the progress of each task on the Kanban board.
        4. Before packaging, the team must ____ the goods carefully to ensure quality control.

        Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (There may be multiple correct answers per question)

        1. You can always ____ on her for reliable data analysis and insights. A. depend B. rely C. count D. expect

        2. In a merit-based system, every individual's contribution should ____ equally. A. matter B. weigh C. count D. signify

        3. Before submitting the proposal, make sure to ____ all appendices to ensure nothing is missing. A. number B. review C. count D. verify

        4. The financial department needs to ____ the exact expenditures for the last quarter. A. list B. detail C. specify D. calculate

        5. Management asked the team to ____ the potential risks associated with the new software implementation. A. assess B. evaluate C. appraise D. enumerate

        Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

        1. Your dedication and hard work are really important for the team's success. (Rewrite using "count")
        2. We entirely depend on the project lead for guidance and decision-making. (Rewrite using "count" or a related word form)
        3. The legal team needs to find out the precise number of clauses in the new contract. (Rewrite, but do not use "count")

        Answer:

        Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

        1. count
        2. counts
        3. track (or monitor)
        4. inspect (or examine)

        Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

        1. A, B, C (depend, rely, count)
        2. A, B, C, D (matter, weigh, count, signify)
        3. A, C (number, count)
        4. A, B, C (list, detail, specify)
        5. A, B, C (assess, evaluate, appraise)

        Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

        1. Your dedication and hard work really count towards the team's success.
        2. We entirely count on the project lead for guidance and decision-making.
        3. The legal team needs to ascertain the precise number of clauses in the new contract. (Other possible answers: determine, verify)

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