English Reference
verb · noun

mount

v. · n.
US /ˈmaʊnt/ UK /mˈaʊnt/ mount UK spelling mounts

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    v.to gradually increase in amount, size, or intensity.

    v.to increase in amount, number, or intensity over a period of time. Often used with 'up' as an intransitive phrasal verb.

    Simple

    The costs of the house repairs began to mount up quickly.

    In context

    Pressure on the government began to mount as more evidence of the scandal was leaked to the press.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Formal

    v.to organize and begin an activity, such as a search, a protest, or a challenge.

    v.to organize and initiate a campaign, challenge, or large-scale effort. Transitive; requires a direct object.

    Simple

    The local community decided to mount a protest against the new road.

    In context

    The opposition party is preparing to mount a legal challenge against the recent changes to the voting laws.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate

    v.to get onto something high, like a horse, a bicycle, or a platform.

    v.to ascend or get onto a raised surface, animal, or vehicle. Transitive in modern usage.

    Simple

    She watched the rider mount his horse and gallop away.

    In context

    The speaker had to mount the podium twice because the microphone was not working during the first attempt.

    climbascendbestride
    dismount
  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate

    v.to fix something firmly onto a support, like a picture on a wall.

    v.to fix an object securely onto a support, backing, or frame for display or use.

    Simple

    We decided to mount the television on the wall to save space.

    In context

    The specimen was carefully mounted on a glass slide for examination under the microscope.

  5. 05 C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    v.to make a disk or drive ready for a computer to use.

    v.to make a storage device or file system available for use by the operating system.

    Simple

    The computer failed to mount the external hard drive.

    In context

    The system administrator had to manually mount the network drive after the server rebooted.

    connectinitialize
    unmounteject
  6. 06 C2 Proficiency Technical Cooking

    v.to whisk cold butter or fat into a sauce at the end to make it thick and shiny.

    v.to whisk cold butter or cream into a sauce just before serving to add shine and body. Derived from the French 'monter'.

    Simple

    Mount the sauce with a few cubes of cold butter for a glossy finish.

    In context

    The chef instructed the apprentice to mount the reduction with chilled butter to achieve the desired velvety texture.

  7. 07 B1 Intermediate

    n.a mountain or a high hill — often used in names.

    n.a mountain or hill. Frequently used as a title before a specific name.

    Simple

    They plan to climb Mount Everest next spring.

    In context

    The monastery was built on the slopes of a remote mount, accessible only by a narrow stone path.

  8. 08 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.an animal, usually a horse, that you ride.

    n.an animal, typically a horse, used for riding or as a means of transport.

    Simple

    The knight led his mount to the water for a drink.

    In context

    The cavalry officer checked his mount's shoes before the long journey across the rugged terrain.

Can they mount a title challenge for the first time in a decade?

The Guardian· 24 Aug 2026

The paper adds the PM also promised to mount a Covid-style campaign to get everyone off the streets this winter.

BBC News· 18 Aug 2026

English surname, from the noun mount.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated