Definitions
01unit of weight
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a unit of weight. In the US, a ton is 2,000 pounds. For the metric unit of 1,000 kilograms, see tonne.
n. a unit of mass. The US short ton is 2,000 pounds (about 907 kilograms). The British long ton is 2,240 pounds. For the metric unit, see tonne.
“The truck was carrying several tons of steel to the construction site.”
“The shipping container was rated to carry up to twenty tons of cargo, though the port authorities rarely allowed it to be filled to capacity.”
Synonyms
02a large amount
B1 · Intermediate Plural noun Informal
n. a lot of something; a very large amount.
n. a figurative, hyperbolic expression for a large or overwhelming quantity.
“I have a ton of homework to finish before I can go out tonight.”
“Despite having a ton of experience in the field, the consultant found the new software architecture surprisingly difficult to navigate.”
03one hundred
C1 · Advanced Countable noun British English · Informal
n. the number one hundred, especially a score in a game or a speed.
n. a colloquial term for the number one hundred, frequently used in the context of cricket scores or vehicle speeds.
“The batsman was delighted to reach his ton before the end of the match.”
“He was caught doing a ton on the motorway and faced an immediate suspension of his driving licence.”
Usage
Often used with the definite article as 'the ton' when referring to speed.
04fashionable society
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Literary · Archaic
n. the people who are considered fashionable or high-class.
n. the prevailing fashion or style; specifically, the elite or fashionable society of a particular period.
“The young duchess was considered the leader of the ton that season.”
“In Regency novels, characters are often preoccupied with their standing among the ton and the strict social codes of the era.”
Teaching tip
This sense is almost exclusively found in historical fiction or period dramas set in the 18th or 19th century.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “ton” in context.
Verb
01. do a ton of work
“I have to stay late tonight because I still have to do a ton of work for the project.”
verb + noun + of + noun
02. save a ton of money
“We saved a ton of money by booking our flights six months in advance.”
verb + noun + of + noun
03. weigh a ton
“Can you help me move this suitcase? It weighs a ton!”
verb + noun
Noun
04. metric ton
“The cargo ship was carrying over five thousand metric tons of steel.”
adj + noun
05. ton of fun
“We had a ton of fun at the amusement park yesterday.”
noun + of + noun
06. ton of homework
“The teacher gave us a ton of homework to complete over the weekend.”
noun + of + noun
Preposition
07. in tons
“The factory measures its annual production of plastic in tons.”
prep + noun
08. over a ton
“The adult elephant weighed well over a ton.”
prep + noun
Usage
British English spells the 1,000 kg unit 'tonne'. See the entry for tonne.
Real-World Examples
“The bank moved more than 27 tonnes of physical gold from the US and Canada to Zeist.” “DNB said on Wednesday that 86 tonnes of gold had been removed from the US and Canada in a complex operation that took several months.” Etymology
Variant of tun (“cask”), influenced by Old French tonne (“ton”).
Borrowed from French ton (“manner”), from Latin tonus. Doublet of tone, tune, and tonus.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/ton
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