Ton is a large unit of weight used mainly in the United States. It means 2,000 pounds and is used to measure heavy things.
This truck can carry one ton.
The boxes weigh half a ton.
In the United Kingdom, a ton is often 2,240 pounds. This is called a long ton and is used for measuring large weights like cargo.
A long ton is heavier than a short ton.
Ships measure cargo in long tons.
The metric ton is used worldwide and is 1,000 kilograms. It is close to 2,204 pounds and used especially in science and industry.
The factory produces one ton of steel.
The car weighs less than a ton.
Ton can mean a very big amount in informal speech. It is used to show there is a lot of something, not an exact weight.
She has a ton of homework today.
We saw a ton of birds here.
In ships, ton can mean the size or how much cargo a ship can carry. This is different from weight and is about volume.
The ship has a capacity of 500 tons.
Cargo ships are measured in tons.
In some places, to ton someone means to speak to them angrily as a way to punish or criticize.
The boss tonned him for being late.
She got tonned by her teacher.
