count
It is absurd to believe that where you went to school counts for more than what you can do.
Appearances count for nothing in sport, unless you can back them up with results.
He can remember a time when a man's military record counted for something in politics.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Being important and having importance
beat
big deal
bulk
bulk largeidiom
centrality
count
countable
cut
equally
fish
front and centre
have bigger/other fish to fryidiom
have/take pride of placeidiom
high-stakes
matter
pride
reign
signify
the beating heart of somethingidiom
treasurable