1count 
/ˈkaʊnt/ verb
counts; count·ed; count·ing /ˈkaʊnt/ verb 1 a : to add (people or things) together to find the total number [+ obj] ▪ Count the plates on the table. ▪ She made sure to count her change. ▪ Count how many fingers I am holding up. ▪ He counted seven deer in the field. ▪ When it comes to books, I have too many to count. [=I have a lot of books] ▪ She is counting calories. [=she counts the number of calories in the food she eats so that she won't eat too much] — often + up ▪ She was counting up the money in the envelope. ▪ All the votes were counted up, and he was the winner. [no obj] ▪ There are 10 days left until the end of school, counting from today. ▪ Keep counting until there are no more left to count. ▪ Don't interrupt me. I'm counting.
b [no obj] : to say numbers in order
▪ Can your daughter count yet? ▪ The teacher taught the students to count by 10s. [=to say “10, 20, 30, etc.”] — often + to or up to ▪ My son can count to one hundred. ▪ He counted up to 10 and then stopped. 2 [+ obj] : to include (someone or something) in a total
▪ She counts [=numbers] several musicians among her friends. [=her friends include musicians] ▪ There will be 150 people at the wedding, not counting children. 3 [no obj] : to be accepted or allowed officially
▪ There was a penalty on the play, so the goal does not count. [=the goal is not allowed] 4 a [+ obj] : to consider or regard (someone or something) in a specified way
▪ I count myself lucky. — often + as ▪ I don't count him as my friend anymore. ▪ She was counted as absent from school that day.
b [no obj] : to be considered or regarded as something
▪ A laptop computer counts as a piece of luggage on the plane. ▪ The job is so easy that it hardly counts as work. [=it can hardly be considered to be work] 5 [no obj] : to have value or importance
▪ Every vote counts. ▪ He played well in the play-offs, when it really counted. [=mattered] — often + for ▪ My effort in class has to count for something! ▪ Her promises don't count for much. [=his promises don't have much value] 6 always followed by an adverb or preposition : to be considered in a specified way when a person or thing is being judged [no obj] ▪ His experience counts in his favor. [=his experience is a good thing that is in his favor] ▪ His lack of experience counts against him. ▪ A wrong answer on the quiz will not count against [=will not hurt] your final grade. [+ obj] ▪ They counted his lack of job experience against him. ▪ A wrong answer on the quiz will not be counted against your final grade.
b [no obj] : to say numbers in order
▪ Can your daughter count yet? ▪ The teacher taught the students to count by 10s. [=to say “10, 20, 30, etc.”] — often + to or up to ▪ My son can count to one hundred. ▪ He counted up to 10 and then stopped.
▪ She counts [=numbers] several musicians among her friends. [=her friends include musicians] ▪ There will be 150 people at the wedding, not counting children.
▪ There was a penalty on the play, so the goal does not count. [=the goal is not allowed]
▪ I count myself lucky. — often + as ▪ I don't count him as my friend anymore. ▪ She was counted as absent from school that day.
b [no obj] : to be considered or regarded as something
▪ A laptop computer counts as a piece of luggage on the plane. ▪ The job is so easy that it hardly counts as work. [=it can hardly be considered to be work]
▪ Every vote counts. ▪ He played well in the play-offs, when it really counted. [=mattered] — often + for ▪ My effort in class has to count for something! ▪ Her promises don't count for much. [=his promises don't have much value]
and counting
: with more to come
▪ He is 47 years old and counting. ▪ They have been in business for 50 years and counting.
▪ He is 47 years old and counting. ▪ They have been in business for 50 years and counting.
count down [phrasal verb] 1 : to count numbers in a reverse order from higher numbers to lower ones
▪ He counted down from 10 to 1. 2 count down (something) also count (something) down : to pay close attention to the number of (days, miles, etc.) that remain until a particular moment or event is reached
▪ He is counting down the days left in the school year. [=he is eagerly looking forward to the end of the school year] ▪ We were counting down the miles as we approached our destination.
▪ He counted down from 10 to 1.
▪ He is counting down the days left in the school year. [=he is eagerly looking forward to the end of the school year] ▪ We were counting down the miles as we approached our destination.
count heads
: to count how many people are present at a place
▪ The coach counted heads before the bus left.
▪ The coach counted heads before the bus left.
count in [phrasal verb]
count (someone) in : to plan to include (someone) in an activity : to consider (someone) as one of the people who will be doing something
▪ “Do you want to go to the beach with us?” “Yes! Count me in!”
▪ “Do you want to go to the beach with us?” “Yes! Count me in!”
count off [phrasal verb] 1 : to count numbers that are spaced a certain number apart
▪ The students counted off by twos. [=counted 2, 4, 6, 8, etc.] 2 count off (something) or count (something) off : to list (something) out loud
▪ She counted off all the things she wanted to do.
▪ The students counted off by twos. [=counted 2, 4, 6, 8, etc.]
▪ She counted off all the things she wanted to do.
count on/upon [phrasal verb] 1 count on/upon (someone) a : to trust (someone) : to rely or depend on (someone) to do something
▪ He isn't someone you can count on all the time. ▪ I am counting on you to help me through this difficult time. ▪ She is counted on [=trusted] as a leader.
b : to expect (someone) to do something
▪ I wouldn't count on him to win the match. 2 count on/upon (something) : to expect (something) to happen
▪ My parents might loan me some money, but I can't count on it. ▪ She is counting on a big tax refund this year. ▪ The kids are counting on going to the movies. Don't disappoint them! ▪ They were not counting on getting a flat tire on the way to the restaurant.
▪ He isn't someone you can count on all the time. ▪ I am counting on you to help me through this difficult time. ▪ She is counted on [=trusted] as a leader.
b : to expect (someone) to do something
▪ I wouldn't count on him to win the match.
▪ My parents might loan me some money, but I can't count on it. ▪ She is counting on a big tax refund this year. ▪ The kids are counting on going to the movies. Don't disappoint them! ▪ They were not counting on getting a flat tire on the way to the restaurant.
count out [phrasal verb] 1 count (someone) out : to not include (someone) in an activity
▪ If you are looking for people to help you clean the house today, count me out. [=don't include me; I won't be helping you] 2 count (someone or something) out or count out (someone or something) : to decide that (someone or something) cannot win or succeed
▪ Don't count out our team just yet. They could still win.
▪ If you are looking for people to help you clean the house today, count me out. [=don't include me; I won't be helping you]
▪ Don't count out our team just yet. They could still win.
count the cost
: to feel the bad effects of a mistake, accident, etc.
▪ He was careless and now he's counting the cost. = Now he's counting the cost of his carelessness.
▪ He was careless and now he's counting the cost. = Now he's counting the cost of his carelessness.
count toward/towards [phrasal verb]
count toward/towards (something) or count (something) toward/towards (something) : to have value as a credit or payment in relation to (something)
▪ The credits you earned for this class count toward your degree. [=they are added to the total number of credits you have earned for your degree] — often used as (be) counted toward/towards ▪ Fifty dollars will be counted towards [=credited to] your next bill.
▪ The credits you earned for this class count toward your degree. [=they are added to the total number of credits you have earned for your degree] — often used as (be) counted toward/towards ▪ Fifty dollars will be counted towards [=credited to] your next bill.
count your blessings — see blessing
count your chickens before they hatch — see 1chicken
stand up and be counted — see 1stand
who's counting?
informal + humorous — used to say that you do not care about how large a number is ▪ Tomorrow's my 80th birthday, but who's counting?
