quantity
- 01 A2 Elementary
the amount or number of something that can be measured or counted.
the amount, sum, or number of a substance or objects; it can be used both countably for discrete items and uncountably for mass.
Simple“The police found a large quantity of stolen goods in the back of the van.”
In context“The factory produces a vast quantity of plastic waste every year, much of which is unfortunately not suitable for recycling.”
UsageOften used in the pattern 'a [adjective] quantity of [noun]'.
PitfallA large quantity of people attended. A large number of people attended.Use 'quantity' or 'amount' for things you cannot count (like water) and 'number' for things you can count (like people).
- 02 B1 Intermediate
a large or significant amount of something.
a considerable or significant measure or amount, often used to contrast with quality.
Simple“It is usually better to focus on the quality of your work rather than the quantity.”
In context“The publisher prioritised quantity over quality, releasing dozens of mediocre titles to saturate the market before the holiday season.”
Teacher's tipCommonly found in the phrase 'quantity over quality'.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
a value or symbol that represents a number in a calculation.
a property of a phenomenon or substance that has a magnitude expressed as a number and a reference unit.
Simple“In this equation, the letter 'x' represents an unknown quantity.”
In context“The physicist calculated the precise quantity of energy released during the reaction, accounting for minimal heat loss to the environment.”
UsageIn mathematics, it refers to anything that can be multiplied, divided, or measured.
Usage reduce quantity · substantial quantity · sufficient quantity
From Middle English quantite, from Old French quantité, from Latin quantitās (“quantity”), from quantus (“how much”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.