Sign In Get Started
Preposition after adjective

tantamount to

Tantamount is followed by to and means equal to or effectively the same as something, especially in effect or consequence.

Quick answer

How do you use tantamount to?

Use tantamount to before a noun or verb in -ing form. The phrase is common in formal or legal English.

Ignoring the warning was tantamount to negligence.
The decision was tantamount to admitting defeat.
Their silence seemed tantamount to approval.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
tantamount to + noun

Showing equivalence in effect

Use a noun after tantamount to describe the equivalent result.

The act was tantamount to fraud.
2
tantamount to + verb-ing

Using an action after tantamount to

A gerund can follow to because to is a preposition here.

Refusing to respond is tantamount to accepting the claim.
3
be tantamount to

Using tantamount after be

Tantamount usually appears after forms of be.

This would be tantamount to censorship.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
tantamount to
The policy change was tantamount to a ban.
Equivalent in effect or meaning.
equal to
His contribution was equal to ours.
Usually refers to quantity, value, or ability rather than indirect effect.
equivalent to
The certificate is equivalent to a diploma.
Often used for formal equivalence or substitution.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using an infinitive after tantamount to

To is a preposition here, so use a noun or verb-ing form.

✕ The refusal was tantamount to admit guilt. ✓ The refusal was tantamount to admitting guilt.

Omitting to

Tantamount normally requires to.

✕ The statement was tantamount an apology. ✓ The statement was tantamount to an apology.

Using tantamount in casual equality contexts

Tantamount usually refers to effect or implication, often in formal contexts.

✓ The accusation was tantamount to defamation.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Their actions were tantamount ___ a confession.
2. Ignoring the rules is tantamount to ___ the contract.
3. The change was tantamount to a complete ___.

Check your sentence in context

Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.

Free to try · No signup required

Frequently asked questions

Is tantamount to formal?

Yes. It is more common in formal, legal, or academic English.

Can tantamount to be followed by a verb?

Yes, but use the -ing form because to is a preposition.

What does tantamount to mean?

It means effectively equal to something in meaning, result, or consequence.

tailor-made-for-to-by-according, as "talented in" or "talented at"? "tall in" or "tall with"? tamil in, as, for, from or by? "tangled in" or "tangled with"? "taxable in", "taxable under" or "taxable at"? "technical in" or "technical for"? teeming with or in? "tempting for" or "tempting to"? tender for, to, in, with or of? "terrible for" or "terrible at"? terrified of, about, at, by or for?

Write with confidence in Linguix

Create a free account to check complete texts, apply suggestions, and save your documents.

Create a free account