tally

1 of 2

noun

tal·​ly ˈta-lē 

plural tallies

1

a

: a recorded reckoning or account (as of items or charges)

keep a daily tally of accidents

b

: a score or point made (as in a game)

2

: a device (such as a notched rod or mechanical counter) for visibly recording or accounting especially business transactions

3

a

: a part that corresponds to an opposite or companion member : complement

b

: a state of correspondence or agreement

tally

2 of 2

verb

tallied; tallying

transitive verb

1

a

: to record on or as if on a tally : tabulate

b

: to list or check off (something, such as a cargo) by items

c

: to register (a score) in a contest

2

: to make a count of : reckon

3

: to cause to correspond

intransitive verb

1

a

: to make a tally by or as if by tabulating

b

: to register a point in a contest : score

2

: correspond, match

Synonyms of tally

Noun

• count
• score

Verb

• correspond
• coincide
• check
• conform
• agree
• fit

Examples of tally in a Sentence

Noun

What is the final tally?

Her second goal turned out to be the game-winning tally.

Verb

He tallied his expenses every day.

The numbers on the old list and the new list don't tally.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Her career spanned genres as well as musical eras, with sidelines in North Indian classical music, Hindu devotionals, folk, pop, and new age; her full catalog encompasses more than 12,000 songs, a feat recorded in the Guinness World Records in 2011 (when the tally stood at 11,000). —Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 13 Apr. 2026

The closing stanza brought a rapid exchange of special-teams tallies, as on the same Ducks power play, Vancouver notched a shorthanded goal and the Ducks responded by cashing in 38 seconds later. —Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 13 Apr. 2026

Verb

In 28 plate appearances, Kyle Isbel has hit two long balls, tallied five RBIs and scored five runs. —Data Skrive, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026

Kenzel Lantano provided 38 assists to reach 1,500 career assists and tallied five aces, four digs and two blocks as Lynn Classical defeated Everett 3-0 in Greater Boston League action. —Tyler McManus, Boston Herald, 7 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English talye, from Anglo-French talie, taille, in part from tailler to cut, measure, count; in part from Medieval Latin tallia, alteration of Latin talea plant cutting, thin piece of wood

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for tally

• alley
• alli
• bally
• calli
• challis
• dally
• galley
• galli
• lally
• mallee
• mally
• rally

Kids Definition

tally

1 of 2 noun

tal·​ly ˈtal-ē 

plural tallies

1

: a device for keeping a count

2

a

: a recorded account

b

: a total recorded

3

: a score or point made (as in a game)

tally

2 of 2 verb

tallied; tallying

1

: to keep a count of

2

: to make a tally : score

3

: correspond sense 1, agree