Meaning of the word ton in English

What does ton mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

ton

US /tʌn/

UK /tʌn/

a unit of weight equal to 2,240 pounds avoirdupois (1,016 kg)

Example:

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The truck can carry up to five tons of cargo.

•

The old bridge was designed to support many tons of weight.

Synonym:

long ton imperial ton

a unit of weight equal to 2,000 pounds (907.18 kg)

Example:

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In the US, a short ton is commonly used for measuring bulk goods.

•

The weight of the car is approximately one ton.

Synonym:

short ton US ton

a metric ton, equal to 1,000 kilograms (2,204.6 pounds)

Example:

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The shipping container has a capacity of 20 metric tons.

•

The elephant weighs several metric tons.

Synonym:

metric ton tonne

a large amount of something

Example:

•

I have a ton of work to do today.

•

Thanks a ton for your help!

Synonym:

lot heap mass abundance plethora