Amount vs. Number — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on October 12, 2023
"Amount" refers to a quantity of something uncountable or non-discrete, while "Number" relates to countable items or entities.
Difference Between Amount and Number
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Amount and Number are terms commonly used to indicate quantities. However, their specific applications differentiate them. "Amount" typically denotes the quantity of non-discrete or uncountable items. For instance, the amount of water, sugar, or love one might have. Conversely, "Number" is reserved for indicating the quantity of countable, discrete items. For example, the number of books, cars, or people in a room.
The use of Amount often surfaces in contexts where precision might not be the topmost priority. Discussions about the amount of happiness, pain, or rain use this term because they don't typically require an exact figure. On the flip side, Number is utilized when specificity is required. For example, when accounting for the number of students in a class or the number of items sold, a precise count is essential.
A nuance to remember is that while Amount can sometimes be given in precise measures, like liters or grams, it doesn't make the items counted. One might know the amount of flour in grams, but it remains an uncountable entity. In contrast, Number is always about individual, distinct entities; you can separate, count, and often enumerate them one by one.
In daily conversation, understanding when to use Amount versus Number ensures clarity and grammatical accuracy. It's not about the number of milk one drinks but the amount. Similarly, it's not the amount of shoes one has but the number.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Quantity of non-discrete or uncountable items.
Quantity of countable, discrete items.
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Usage
Describes things like water, happiness, sand.
Describes items like books, cars, students.
Measurement
Can be vague or specific (liters, grams).
Always specific (1, 2, 3...).
Grammar
Used with singular verbs (amount is).
Used with plural verbs (number are).
Application
When you can't easily count individual items.
When counting distinct, separate entities.
Compare with Definitions
Amount
A quantity of non-countable items or feelings.
The amount of trust between them is evident.
Number
A numeral or combination of numerals.
The number 123 is read as one hundred twenty-three.
Amount
The degree or extent of something.
The amount of effort she put into the project was commendable.
Number
A number is a mathematical object used to count, measure, and label. The original examples are the natural numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and so forth.
Amount
The total of two or more quantities.
The combined amount of their savings was impressive.
Number
A member of the set of positive integers; one of a series of symbols of unique meaning in a fixed order that can be derived by counting.
Amount
A volume or mass of some substance.
The amount of water in the jug is insufficient.
Number
A member of any of the following sets of mathematical objects
Integers, rational numbers, real numbers, and complex numbers. These sets can be derived from the positive integers through various algebraic and analytic constructions.
Amount
A quantity of something, especially the total of a thing or things in number, size, value, or extent
The substance is harmless if taken in small amounts
Sport gives an enormous amount of pleasure to many people
Number
Numbers Arithmetic.
Amount
Come to be (the total) when added together
Losses amounted to over 10 million pounds
Number
A symbol or word used to represent a number.
Amount
The total of two or more quantities; the aggregate.
Number
A numeral or a series of numerals used for reference or identification
His telephone number.
The apartment number.
Amount
A number; a sum.
Number
A position in an ordered sequence that corresponds to one of the positive integers
The house that is number three from the corner.
Ranked number six in her class.
Amount
A principal plus its interest, as in a loan.
Number
One item in a group or series considered to be in numerical order
An old number of a magazine.
Amount
The full effect or meaning; import.
Number
A total; a sum
The number of feet in a mile.
Amount
Quantity
A great amount of intelligence.
Number
An indefinite quantity of units or individuals
The crowd was small in number. A number of people complained.
Amount
To add up in number or quantity
The purchases amounted to 50 dollars.
Number
A large quantity; a multitude
Numbers of people visited the fair.
Amount
To add up in import or effect
That plan will never amount to anything.
Number
Numerical superiority
The South had leaders, the North numbers.
Amount
To be equivalent or tantamount
Accusations that amount to an indictment.
Number
(Grammar) The indication, as by inflection, of the singularity, duality, or plurality of a linguistic form.
Amount
The total, aggregate or sum of material not applicable to discrete numbers or units or items in standard English.
The amount of atmospheric pollution threatens a health crisis.
Number
Metrical feet or lines; verses
"These numbers will I tear, and write in prose" (Shakespeare).
Amount
A quantity or volume.
Pour a small amount of water into the dish.
The dogs need different amounts of food.
Number
(Obsolete) Poetic meter.
Amount
The number (the sum) of elements in a set.
Number
Numbers(Archaic) Musical periods or measures.
Amount
To total or evaluate.
It amounts to three dollars and change.
Number
Numbers (used with a sing. or pl. verb) Games A numbers game.
Amount
To be the same as or equivalent to.
He was a pretty good student, but never amounted to much professionally.
His response amounted to gross insubordination
Number
Numbers (used with a sing. verb) See Table at Bible.
Amount
To go up; to ascend.
Number
One of the separate offerings in a program of music or other entertainment
The band's second number was a march.
Amount
To go up; to ascend.
So up he rose, and thence amounted straight.
Number
(Slang) A frequently repeated, characteristic speech, argument, or performance
Suspects doing their usual number—protesting innocence.
Amount
To rise or reach by an accumulation of particular sums or quantities; to come (to) in the aggregate or whole; - with to or unto.
Number
(Slang) A person or thing singled out for a particular characteristic
A crafty number.
Amount
To rise, reach, or extend in effect, substance, or influence; to be equivalent; to come practically (to); as, the testimony amounts to very little.
Number
To assign a number to or mark with a number
Did you number the pages of the report?.
Amount
To signify; to amount to.
Number
To determine the number or amount of; count
Tickets sold for the show were numbered at 500.
Amount
The sum total of two or more sums or quantities; the aggregate; the whole quantity; a totality; as, the amount of 7 and 9 is 16; the amount of a bill; the amount of this year's revenue.
Number
To total in number or amount; add up to
The ships in the harbor number around 100.
Amount
The effect, substance, value, significance, or result; the sum; as, the amount of the testimony is this.
The whole amount of that enormous fame.
Number
To include in a group or category
He was numbered among the lost.
Amount
How much of something is available;
An adequate amount of food for four people
Number
To limit or restrict in number
Our days are numbered.
Amount
A quantity of money;
He borrowed a large sum
The amount he had in cash was insufficient
Number
To call off numbers; count
Numbering to ten.
Amount
How much there is of something that you can quantify
Number
To have as a total; amount to a number
The applicants numbered in the thousands.
Amount
A quantity obtained by addition
Number
(countable) An abstract entity used to describe quantity.
Zero, one, −1, 2.5, and pi are all numbers.
Amount
Be tantamount or equivalent to;
Her action amounted to a rebellion
Number
(countable) A numeral: a symbol for a non-negative integer.
The number 8 is usually made with a single stroke.
Amount
Add up in number or quantity;
The bills amounted to $2,000
The bill came to $2,000
Number
An element of one of several sets: natural numbers, integers, rational numbers, real numbers, complex numbers, and sometimes extensions such as hypercomplex numbers, etc.
The equation includes the most important numbers: 1, 0, , , and .
Amount
Develop into;
This idea will never amount to anything
Nothing came of his grandiose plans
Number
(Followed by a numeral; used attributively) Indicating the position of something in a list or sequence. Abbreviations: No or No., no or no. (in each case, sometimes written with a superscript "o", like Nº or №). The symbol "#" is also used in this manner.
Horse number 5 won the race.
Amount
A sum of money.
The amount he owes is staggering.
Number
Quantity.
Any number of people can be reading from a given repository at a time.
Number
A sequence of digits and letters used to register people, automobiles, and various other items.
Her passport number is C01X864TN.
Number
A telephone number.
Number
(grammar) Of a word or phrase, the state of being singular, dual or plural, shown by inflection.
Adjectives and nouns should agree in gender, number, and case.
Number
Poetic metres; verses, rhymes.
Number
(countable) A performance; especially, a single song or song and dance routine within a larger show.
For his second number, he sang "The Moon Shines Bright".
Number
A person.
Number
An item of clothing, particularly a stylish one.
Number
A marijuana cigarette, or joint; also, a quantity of marijuana bought from a dealer.
Number
(dated) An issue of a periodical publication.
The latest number of a magazine
Number
A large amount, in contrast to a smaller amount; numerical preponderance.
Number
A large amount of damage
Number
(transitive) To label (items) with numbers; to assign numbers to (items).
Number the baskets so that we can find them easily.
Number
(intransitive) To total or count; to amount to.
I don’t know how many books are in the library, but they must number in the thousands.
Number
That which admits of being counted or reckoned; a unit, or an aggregate of units; a numerable aggregate or collection of individuals; an assemblage made up of distinct things expressible by figures.
Number
A collection of many individuals; a numerous assemblage; a multitude; many.
Ladies are always of great use to the party they espouse, and never fail to win over numbers.
Number
A numeral; a word or character denoting a number; as, to put a number on a door.
Number
Numerousness; multitude.
Number itself importeth not much in armies where the people are of weak courage.
Number
The state or quality of being numerable or countable.
Of whom came nations, tribes, people, and kindreds out of number.
Number
Quantity, regarded as made up of an aggregate of separate things.
Number
That which is regulated by count; poetic measure, as divisions of time or number of syllables; hence, poetry, verse; - chiefly used in the plural.
I lisped in numbers, for the numbers came.
Number
The distinction of objects, as one, or more than one (in some languages, as one, or two, or more than two), expressed (usually) by a difference in the form of a word; thus, the singular number and the plural number are the names of the forms of a word indicating the objects denoted or referred to by the word as one, or as more than one.
Number
The measure of the relation between quantities or things of the same kind; that abstract species of quantity which is capable of being expressed by figures; numerical value.
Number
To count; to reckon; to ascertain the units of; to enumerate.
If a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
Number
To reckon as one of a collection or multitude.
He was numbered with the transgressors.
Number
To give or apply a number or numbers to; to assign the place of in a series by order of number; to designate the place of by a number or numeral; as, to number the houses in a street, or the apartments in a building.
Number
To amount; to equal in number; to contain; to consist of; as, the army numbers fifty thousand.
Thy tears can not number the dead.
Number
The property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals;
He had a number of chores to do
The number of parameters is small
The figure was about a thousand
Number
A concept of quantity derived from zero and units;
Every number has a unique position in the sequence
Number
A short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program;
He did his act three times every evening
She had a catchy little routine
It was one of the best numbers he ever did
Number
A numeral or string of numerals that is used for identification;
She refused to give them her Social Security number
Number
The number is used in calling a particular telephone;
He has an unlisted number
Number
A symbol used to represent a number;
He learned to write the numerals before he went to school
Number
One of a series published periodically;
She found an old issue of the magazine in her dentist's waitingroom
Number
A select company of people;
I hope to become one of their number before I die
Number
The grammatical category for the forms of nouns and pronouns and verbs that are used depending on the number of entities involved (singular or dual or plural);
In English the subject and the verb must agree in number
Number
An item of merchandise offered for sale;
She preferred the black nylon number
This sweater is an all-wool number
Number
A clothing measurement;
A number 13 shoe
Number
Add up in number or quantity;
The bills amounted to $2,000
The bill came to $2,000
Number
Give numbers to;
You should number the pages of the thesis
Number
Enumerate;
We must number the names of the great mathematicians
Number
Put into a group;
The academy counts several Nobel Prize winners among its members
Number
Determine the number or amount of;
Can you count the books on your shelf?
Count your change
Number
Place a limit on the number of
Number
A countable quantity.
The number of students attending the seminar was high.
Number
A mathematical value represented by symbols.
My favorite number is seven.
Number
A position in a sequence.
Her song hit number one on the charts.
Number
A distinct entity in a group.
A large number of birds flew overhead.
Common Curiosities
When should I use "amount" vs. "number"?
Use "amount" for uncountable items and "number" for countable ones.
Can "number" refer to a position?
Yes, as in "number one" in a sequence or ranking.
Is it "amount of people" or "number of people"?
It's "number of people" since people are countable.
Can "amount" be specific?
Yes, like when referring to a specific quantity of a substance (e.g., 2 liters).
Can "number" be used in math?
Absolutely, as in a specific numeral or value.
Is "amount" always singular?
Grammatically, "amount" is used with singular verbs, like "amount is."
What about abstract concepts like "amount of fun"?
"Fun" is uncountable, so "amount" is appropriate.
What's an example of "amount" in finance?
An "amount" can refer to a sum of money one owes or possesses.
Can you use "number" with singular items?
Not typically. It's used for multiple countable items.
Is it "number of information" or "amount of information"?
It's "amount of information" since information is uncountable.
Can "number" refer to a phone or house identifier?
Yes, as in "phone number" or "house number."
Is it correct to say "a large amount of apples"?
No, it should be "a large number of apples" since apples are countable.
Can you say "amount of times"?
No, it should be "number of times" since times are countable.
Is "amount" ever plural?
No, but you can have "amounts" when referring to multiple quantities.
How do I know if something is countable?
If you can list items individually, they're countable.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
