To be successful or significant. Usually used in the negative. He got arrested so much as a teenager that I never thought he would amount to much, but look at him now—he's an accomplished musician!The boss is just mad right now—I doubt his new rules will amount to much.
to be as good as something; to be any good. His fine plans don't amount to much, since he won't work for them.(Usually negative.)She's a nice girl, but she'll never amount to much.