quantify

[ kwon-tuh-fahy ]

verb (used with object)

, quan·ti·fied, quan·ti·fy·ing.

1. to determine, indicate, or express the quantity of.
2. Logic. to make explicit the quantity of (a proposition).
3. to give quantity to (something regarded as having only quality).

quantify

/ ˈkwɒntɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. to discover or express the quantity of
2. logic to specify the quantity of (a term) by using a quantifier, such as all, some, or no

Derived Forms

• ˌquantifiˈcation, noun
• ˈquantiˌfiable, adjective

Other Words From

• quan·ti·fi·a·ble [kwon-t, uh, -, fahy, -, uh, -bil], adjective
• quan·ti·fi·ca·tion [kwon-t, uh, -f, uh, -, key, -sh, uh, n], noun
• un·quan·ti·fied adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of quantify¹

First recorded in 1830–40; from Medieval Latin quantificāre, equivalent to Latin quant(us) “how much” + -ificāre -ify

Word History and Origins

Origin of quantify¹

C19: from Medieval Latin quantificāre, from Latin quantus how much + facere to make

Example Sentences

It got him thinking about the inverse: Could he quantify how much carbon increased with that extra child?

From Salon

He reasoned that, while physical objects like flesh and bone can be divided or merged together, consciousness is intrinsically different because it cannot be quantified.

From Salon

Negotiations on the new quantified goal have been happening for months between governments.

From BBC

With a musical and cultural legacy so vast it’s nearly impossible to quantify, singer/guitarist David Gilmour could easily rest on his impressive laurels.

From Los Angeles Times

A day on the road with Omura illustrates how difficult it is to quantify any given person’s status, let alone help them.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• appraise
• assess
• calibrate
• compute
• evaluate
• gauge
• specify