Counting: meaning, definitions and examples

Used in everyday language when keeping track of numbers or items.

• She is counting the number of apples in the basket
• The teacher is counting the students in the classroom

Used in formal or academic contexts to list out items or details.

• The report includes an enumeration of the key findings
• The enumeration of different species in the ecosystem took several years

Used to describe a calculation or judgment, often with a sense of finality or consequence. Can have a negative or serious tone.

• By his reckoning, they should have arrived by now
• The day of reckoning is coming for those who broke the law

Used in contexts where items are being added up and recorded, often in real time.

• They are tallying the votes from the election
• The store is tallying the daily sales

Used in everyday scenarios when determining the number of items or total in a set. Informal and commonly understood.

• I'm counting the apples in the basket.
• We are counting down the days to the holiday.

Used when assigning numbers to things in order or talking about the total count in a definite set. Often seen in administrative or organizational contexts.

• The pages of the report need numbering.
• The students, numbering around fifty, were seated in the auditorium.

Used when adding up or marking off numbers or amounts, often informally and sometimes in a competitive or cumulative manner.

• We need to start tallying points to see who wins.
• They are tallying votes for the election.

Appropriate in academic, technical, or formal settings when needing to list or specify items in a detailed or systematic manner.

• The enumeration of the species found in the rainforest is still ongoing.
• He gave an enumeration of the tasks that needed to be completed.

Used for referring to the action of determining the total number of something by adding one-by-one, often in everyday situations.

• She was counting the number of apples in the basket.
• The teacher asked the students to start counting from one to ten.

Used when listing items or mentioning them one by one, often in formal contexts or detailed descriptions.

• The report will enumerate all the steps taken during the investigation.
• She began to enumerate the reasons for her decision.

Used in contexts where items need to be recorded as they are counted, often for informal or quantitative tracking, such as keeping score.

• Let's tally the votes to see who won the election.
• They tallied the number of goals scored in the match.

Used in situations requiring mathematical operations or solving problems, often involving more complex arithmetic or planning.

• He needs to calculate the total cost of the project.
• She calculated her expenses for the month.