にのぼる (ni-noboru): Amount to; reach
～にのぼる (ni-noboru)
Meaning
Amount to; reach
Formation and usage
quantity + に上る／にのぼる
Notation: N = noun; V dictionary = dictionary-form verb; V stem = the stem before ます; plain clause = plain-form clause; negative stem = the form before ない. Follow the attachment shown above.
Explanation
Used with quantities to emphasize a substantial total, rather than the ordinary physical act of climbing.
Examples
会議の参加者は千人にのぼった。
Attendance at the meeting reached one thousand.
試験の参加者は千人にのぼった。
Attendance at the exam reached one thousand.
研修の参加者は千人にのぼった。
Attendance at the training session reached one thousand.
発表会の参加者は千人にのぼった。
Attendance at the presentation event reached one thousand.
面接の参加者は千人にのぼった。
Attendance at the interview reached one thousand.
How related patterns differ
に足る means worthy or sufficient; に難くない commonly makes something easy to imagine. には及ばない can mean unnecessary or no match for, while に耐える withstands a test. にのぼる reports a quantity reaching a substantial total.