What does tantamount mean?
Word: Tantamount
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Tantamount means having the same effect as something else, usually something bad.
Synonyms: equivalent
Word origin: Came into English in the 1600s from a phrase meaning to amount to as much.
How do you spell tantamount?
Syllables: tan - ta - mount
Tricky part: The vowel in the middle is said so lightly that students guess e or o. It is an a.
Watch out for: tantemount, tantomount, tantermount
Memory tip: Think of the full amount: the fading middle vowel is the letter that opens that word.
Tantamount in a sentence
Example 1: Ignoring the invitation was tantamount to turning it down.
Example 2: For the shopkeeper, closing on the busiest weekends was tantamount to giving away his profits.
Example 3: Changing the rules halfway through would be tantamount to starting the game again.
Fun Fact
It began life as a verb: people in the 1600s could say that one thing would tantamount to another, before the adjective took over.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell Spies
Choose the misspelt word/s in the given sentence:
Leaving the relay before the baton reached her would be tentamount to giving up the whole race, the coach warned.
a) only baton
b) only tentamount
c) relay and coach
d) tentamount and baton
Show answer
b) only tentamount. The opening syllable takes an a, so only that word is wrong.
Word Champ
Choose the correct word for the blank:
Staying silent when the teacher asked for volunteers was ____ to saying no.
a) paramount
b) tantamount
c) dormant
d) adamant
Show answer
b) tantamount. Only this adjective is followed by to in the sense of having the same effect.
Sound Check
In which word is 'ou' pronounced differently?
a) country
b) tantamount
c) fountain
d) discount
Show answer
a) country. Country has the short vowel of cup; the others have the ow of cow.
Jumble Tumble
What is the meaning of the word that can be formed from the given letters?
mutnatoant
a) far too tall to be measured by anyone
b) equal in effect to something unwelcome
c) unable to be seen by the human eye
d) easy to carry from place to place
Show answer
b) equal in effect to something unwelcome. These letters rebuild the adjective that usually comes before to.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A report calls a small budget change tantamount to closing the library. What does the writer fear?
a) The library will get new books.
b) The library will open on Sundays.
c) The library will move next door.
d) The library may as well shut.
Show answer
d) The library may as well shut.
2. An umpire says a late appeal is tantamount to no appeal. How will he treat it?
a) as a stronger appeal
b) as an appeal for a new ball
c) as if it had never been made
d) as a reason to stop play
Show answer
c) as if it had never been made
