A quantity is an amount that you can measure or count.
...a small quantity of water. [+ of]
...vast quantities of food. [+ of]
It takes a long time to make a large quantity.
Cheap goods are available, but not in sufficient quantities to satisfy demand.
Uranium is available in considerable quantity from various areas of the world.
2. uncountable noun
Things that are produced or available in quantity are produced or available in large amounts.
After some initial problems, acetone was successfully produced in quantity.
But even with those databases, the sheer quantity of data can still cause problems.
Synonyms: size, measure, mass, volume More Synonyms of quantity
3. uncountable noun
You can use quantity to refer to the amount of something that there is, especially when you want to contrast it with its quality.
...the less discerning drinker who prefers quantity to quality.
In terms of quantity, production grew faster than ever before.
4.
See unknown quantity
More Synonyms of quantity
quantity in British English
(ˈkwɒntɪtɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-ties
1.
a.
a specified or definite amount, weight, number, etc
b.
(as modifier)
a quantity estimate
2.
the aspect or property of anything that can be measured, weighed, counted, etc
3.
a large or considerable amount
4. mathematics
an entity having a magnitude that may be denoted by a numerical expression
5. physics
a specified magnitude or amount; the product of a number and a unit
6. logic
the characteristic of a proposition dependent on whether it is a universal or particular statement, considering all or only part of a class
7. prosody
the relative duration of a syllable or the vowel in it
▶ USAGE The use of a plural noun after quantity of as in a large quantity of bananas was formerly considered incorrect, but is now acceptable
Word origin
C14: from Old French quantité, from Latin quantitās extent, amount, from quantus how much
quantity in American English
(ˈkwɑntəti)
nounWord forms: pluralˈquantities
1.
an amount; portion
2.
any indeterminate bulk, weight, or number
3.
the exact amount of a particular thing
4. [also pl.]
a great amount or number
to buy a commodity in quantity
5.
that property of anything which can be determined by measurement
6. Logic
that characteristic of a proposition according to which it is classified as universal or particular
7. Ancient Mathematics
a.
a thing that has the property of being measurable in dimensions, amounts, etc. or in extensions of these which can be expressed in numbers or symbols
b.
a number or symbol expressing a mathematical quantity
8. Phonetics and Prosody
the relative length, or duration, of a vowel, continuant consonant, or syllable
Word origin
ME quantite < OFr < L quantitas < quantus, how great < quam, how, how much < IE interrogative base *kwo- > who, what
More idioms containing
quantity
an unknown quantity
COBUILD Collocations
quantity
enormous quantity
huge quantity
small quantity
Examples of 'quantity' in a sentence
quantity
Picking such large quantities takes time and a certain amount of dogged fearlessness.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
To finish ninth with the quality and quantity of players at their disposal was shocking.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Not being able to switch off properly means the quantity and quality of sleep is being damaged.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It rewards both quality and quantity of research work.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The cash was used to help her track down a commercial manufacturer that could produce her products in large quantities.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
It contains caffeine though so shouldn't be consumed in large quantities.
The Sun (2016)
It's unusual for a recipe that contains so few ingredients to vary so wildly in the quantities used.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The company acknowledged the'extremely fine balance' between demand for wider spaces and the quantity of spaces available.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The area of land required to produce a given quantity of food is now just a third of what it was in 1960, thanks to technology.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Such wines can be made available in realistic quantities and at reasonable prices.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Or do you want to go for somebody who is at best an unknown quantity?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Lead is produced for industrial use in larger quantities than any other heavy toxic metal.
McKenzie, James F. & Pinger, Robert R. An Introduction to Community Health (1995)
The end result of both procedures is the stomach becomes fuller from smaller quantities of food.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In large quantities it can cause tremors as well.
Smith, Drew Food Watch (1994)
The sheer quantity of practice cannot finally explain the manifestly apparent differences between elite performers.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This is because of the challenges involved in trying to move such a large quantity of contraband.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
What is the difference between an increase in demand and an increase in quantity demanded?
Miller, Roger LeRoy & Fishe, Raymond P. H. Microeconomics: Price Theory in Practice (1995)
This is costly because the lithium occurs in such small quantities.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This argues for an improvement in the quality and quantity of music training in schools.
The Sun (2010)
Many of the very best pies are only available in small quantities.
The Sun (2012)
Gibraltar are a bit of an unknown quantity.
The Sun (2014)
Double up the quantities and use a larger pan to make this for two.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The elephants require huge quantities of food and often raid villages in search of a meal.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Explain how price ceilings and price floors cause quantity rationing.
Miller, Roger LeRoy & Fishe, Raymond P. H. Microeconomics: Price Theory in Practice (1995)
The problem is that the sheer quantity of football on the telly has diluted the overall quality.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
That way can only lead to painful failure and the eating of considerable quantities of dust and dirt.
Stanley Bing THROWING THE ELEPHANT (2002)
Net migration measures quantity not quality.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The capsules store the rider's body heat and release it in measured quantities when the outside temperature changes.
The Sun (2006)
Naval competition was not merely in terms of quantity and number, but also in the quality of naval assets.
Mcinnes, Colin & Sheffield G.D (eds.) Warfare in the Twentieth Century (1988)
In other languages
quantity
British English: quantity /ˈkwɒntɪtɪ/ NOUN
A quantity is an amount that you can measure or count.
...a small quantity of water.
American English: quantity
Arabic: كَمِيَّة
Brazilian Portuguese: quantidade
Chinese: 数量
Croatian: količina
Czech: množství
Danish: kvantitet
Dutch: hoeveelheid
European Spanish: cantidad volumen
Finnish: määrä
French: quantité
German: Menge
Greek: ποσότητα
Italian: quantità
Japanese: 量
Korean: 수량
Norwegian: antall
Polish: ilość
European Portuguese: quantidade
Romanian: cantitate
Russian: количество
Latin American Spanish: cantidad
Swedish: kvantitet
Thai: จำนวนที่แน่นอน
Turkish: miktar
Ukrainian: кількість
Vietnamese: số lượng
All related terms of 'quantity'
huge quantity
A quantity is an amount that you can measure or count .
quantity mark
a mark that is placed above a vowel or syllable to indicate its duration or length
known quantity
an algebraic quantity whose value is given
minus quantity
a quantity less than zero
quantity theory
a theory stating that the general price level varies directly with the quantity of money in circulation and the velocity with which it is circulated , and inversely with the volume of production expressed by the total number of money transactions
small quantity
A quantity is an amount that you can measure or count .
available quantity
The available quantity of a product is the amount of that product available, or currently available in the store .
enormous quantity
A quantity is an amount that you can measure or count .
quantity discount
When you receive a quantity discount from a store or supplier, you pay less because you have bought a large quantity of goods. Also known as bulk buying discount.
quantity surveying
the action or profession of a person who estimates the cost of the materials and labour necessary for a construction job
quantity surveyor
A quantity surveyor is a person who calculates the cost and amount of materials and workers needed for a job such as building a house or a road .
unknown quantity
If you say that someone or something is an unknown quantity , you mean that not much is known about what they are like or how they will behave .
an unknown quantity
a thing or person that you know very little about
Chinese translation of 'quantity'
quantity
(ˈkwɔntɪtɪ)
n
(c/u) (= amount) 数(數)量 (shùliàng)
(u) (= volume) 容量 (róngliàng)
in large/small quantities大/少量 (dà/shǎoliàng)
in quantity (= in bulk) 大批量 (dà pīliàng)
1 (noun)
Definition
a specified or definite amount or number
a vast quantity of food
Synonyms
amount
I still do a certain amount of work for them.
lot
We've just sacked one lot of builders.
total
The companies have a total of 1,776 employees.
sum
Large sums of money were lost.
part
A large part of his earnings went on repaying the bank loan.
portion
his portion of the inheritance
quota
The quota of four tickets per person had been reduced to two.
aggregate
society viewed as an aggregate of individuals
number
I have had an enormous number of letters from concerned parents.
allotment
His meagre allotment of gas had to be saved for emergencies.
2 (noun)
Definition
the aspect of anything that can be measured, weighed, or counted
the sheer quantity of data can cause problems.
Synonyms
size
books of various sizes
measure
The colonies were claiming a larger measure of self-government.
mass
Pluto and Triton have nearly the same mass and density.
volume
When water is frozen it increases in volume.
length
It is about a metre in length.
capacity
an aircraft with a bomb-carrying capacity of 454 kg
extent
The full extent of the losses was revealed yesterday.
bulk
the shadowy bulk of an ancient barn
magnitude
greatness
expanse
phrase
See unknown quantity
Usage note
The use of a plural noun after quantity of, as in a large quantity of bananas, used to be considered incorrect, the objection being that the word quantity should only be used to refer to an uncountable amount, which was grammatically regarded as a singular concept. Nowadays, however, most people consider the use of quantity with a plural noun to be acceptable.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of aggregate
Definition
an amount or total formed from separate units
society viewed as an aggregate of individuals
Synonyms
total,
body,
whole,
amount,
collection,
cluster,
mass,
sum,
combination,
pile,
mixture,
bulk,
lump,
heap,
accumulation,
assemblage,
agglomeration
in the sense of allotment
His meagre allotment of gas had to be saved for emergencies.
Synonyms
assignment,
share,
measure,
grant,
allowance,
portion,
quota,
lot,
ration,
allocation,
stint,
appropriation,
stipend,
apportionment
in the sense of bulk
Definition
volume or size, esp. when great
the shadowy bulk of an ancient barn
Synonyms
size,
volume,
dimensions,
magnitude,
substance,
vastness,
amplitude,
immensity,
bigness,
largeness,
massiveness
Synonyms of 'quantity'
quantity
Explore 'quantity' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of capacity
Definition
the ability to contain, absorb, or hold something
an aircraft with a bomb-carrying capacity of 454 kg
Synonyms
size,
room,
range,
space,
volume,
extent,
dimensions,
scope,
magnitude,
compass,
amplitude
in the sense of extent
Definition
the degree or amount to which something applies
The full extent of the losses was revealed yesterday.
Synonyms
magnitude,
amount,
degree,
scale,
level,
measure,
stretch,
quantity,
bulk,
duration,
expanse,
amplitude
in the sense of greatness
Synonyms
immensity,
size,
mass,
length,
bulk,
magnitude,
enormity (informal),
vastness,
largeness,
hugeness,
prodigiousness
in the sense of length
Definition
the extent or measurement of something from end to end
It is about a metre in length.
Synonyms
distance,
reach,
measure,
extent,
span,
longitude
in the sense of lot
Definition
a collection of things or people
We've just sacked one lot of builders.
Synonyms
bunch (informal),
group,
crowd,
crew (informal),
set,
band,
quantity,
assortment,
consignment
in the sense of mass
Definition
the size of a body
Pluto and Triton have nearly the same mass and density.
Synonyms
size,
matter,
weight,
extent,
dimensions,
bulk,
magnitude,
greatness
in the sense of measure
Definition
the size, quantity, or degree of something, as discovered by measurement or calculation
The colonies were claiming a larger measure of self-government.
Synonyms
quantity,
share,
amount,
degree,
reach,
range,
size,
capacity,
extent,
proportion,
allowance,
portion,
scope,
quota,
ration,
magnitude,
allotment,
amplitude
in the sense of number
Definition
sum or quantity
I have had an enormous number of letters from concerned parents.
Synonyms
amount,
quantity,
collection,
total,
count,
sum,
aggregate
in the sense of part
Definition
a piece or portion
A large part of his earnings went on repaying the bank loan.
Synonyms
piece,
share,
proportion,
percentage,
lot,
bit,
section,
sector,
slice,
scrap,
particle,
segment,
portion,
fragment,
lump,
fraction,
chunk,
wedge
in the sense of portion
Definition
a part belonging to a person or group
his portion of the inheritance
Synonyms
share,
division,
allowance,
lot,
measure,
quantity,
quota,
ration,
allocation,
allotment
Additional synonyms
in the sense of quota
Definition
the prescribed number or quantity allowed, required, or admitted
The quota of four tickets per person had been reduced to two.
Synonyms
share,
allowance,
ration,
allocation,
part,
cut (informal),
limit,
proportion,
slice,
quantity,
portion,
assignment,
whack (informal),
dispensation
in the sense of sum
Definition
a quantity of money
Large sums of money were lost.
Synonyms
amount,
quantity,
volume
in the sense of total
Definition
the whole, esp. regarded as the sum of a number of parts
The companies have a total of 1,776 employees.
Synonyms
sum,
mass,
entirety,
grand total,
whole,
amount,
aggregate,
totality,
full amount,
sum total,
all
in the sense of volume
Definition
the magnitude of the three-dimensional space enclosed within or occupied by something