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noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

ton

tuhn
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Also spelled tonne (UK spelling)

Ton (noun) means a unit of weight — roughly 907 kg (short ton, US), 1016 kg (long ton, UK), or exactly 1000 kg (metric tonne). Example: “The lorry was weighed at the gate and found to be carrying five tons of sand.”

noun
1
A unit of weight — roughly 907 kg (short ton, US), 1016 kg (long ton, UK), or exactly 1000 kg (metric tonne).
"The lorry was weighed at the gate and found to be carrying five tons of sand."
"The truck can carry up to two tons of gravel."
"The ship displaces over ten thousand tons."
2
Informal: a huge or overwhelming amount of something.
"We had a ton of fun at the beach yesterday, even though it rained."
"She has a ton of homework tonight."
"Thanks a ton for helping me move."

How to use ton

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither the actual unit of weight, or, casually, "a huge amount."

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "tonne" — in everyday British English they're often used loosely, but a metric tonne (1000 kg) is technically distinct from an imperial ton.

Easily confused with
tonne →
Common pairings
a ton of bricks tons of fun weighs a ton
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Word forms

Plural
tons
Test yourself on “ton” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The lorry was weighed at the gate and found to be carrying five _____ of sand.

Etymology

A variant of "tun" (a large cask), influenced by Old French tonne.

Origin: Old French

Synonyms

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loads heaps lots masses oodles plenty

Antonyms

modicum smidgen

Related words

people much lot touch mass lots mountain plenty

Frequently asked questions

What does “ton” mean?
The word “ton” means a unit of weight — roughly 907 kg (short ton, US), 1016 kg (long ton, UK), or exactly 1000 kg (metric tonne). In plain terms, either the actual unit of weight, or, casually, "a huge amount.".
How do you pronounce “ton”?
“Ton” is pronounced tuhn (/tʌn/ in IPA).
How do you use “ton” in a sentence?
Here is “ton” used in a sentence: “The truck can carry up to two tons of gravel.”
What part of speech is “ton”?
“Ton” is a noun.
Where does the word “ton” come from?
The word “ton” comes from Old French. A variant of "tun" (a large cask), influenced by Old French tonne.
Is “ton” a common word?
“Ton” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “ton” have?
“Ton” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a unit of weight — roughly 907 kg (short ton, US), 1016 kg (long ton, UK), or exactly 1000 kg (metric tonne).
What is the difference between a "ton" and a "tonne"?
A "tonne," or metric ton, is exactly 1000 kilograms. A "ton" without qualification can mean the US short ton of about 907 kilograms or the UK long ton of about 1016 kilograms, so the two are close but not identical. The spelling "tonne" is used to keep it distinct from these other units.
What is the difference between a short ton and a long ton?
A short ton, used chiefly in the United States, is about 907 kilograms, or 2000 pounds. A long ton, used traditionally in the United Kingdom, is about 1016 kilograms, or 2240 pounds. Both differ from the metric tonne of exactly 1000 kilograms.
Is "tons of" followed by a singular or plural verb?
When "tons of" means a large amount, the verb agrees with the noun that follows it: "tons of work is left" with an uncountable noun, but "tons of people are here" with a plural countable noun. The word "tons" itself does not fix the verb form.

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