tabulate

1 of 2

verb

tab·​u·​late ˈta-byə-ˌlāt 

tabulated; tabulating

transitive verb

1

: to count, record, or list systematically

2

: to put into tabular form

tabulation

ˌta-byə-ˈlā-shən 

noun

tabulator

ˈta-byə-ˌlā-tər 

noun

tabulator

2 of 2

noun

tab·​u·​lator ˈtabyəˌlātə(r) 

-ātə-

plural -s

: one that tabulates: such as

a

: a typist or clerk who makes tabulations

b

: a business machine for tabulating data

especially : one that sorts and selects information from a series of marked or perforated cards fed into it compare punch card

c

: a device on an office machine (such as a typewriter or biller) having stops that can be set for tabular work

Examples of tabulate in a Sentence

Verb

A machine is used to tabulate the votes.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The discussion included who is voting, whether votes are being tabulated correctly, voter suppression tactics, the risk of artificial intelligence intervening in the process, and how to ensure candidates win fairly. — Julia Avant, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026

What turned out to be a razor-thin contest wasn’t called by the Associated Press until early Wednesday morning, after a delay in tabulating votes from Milwaukee. — Chantelle Lee, Time, 12 Aug. 2026

This decentralization means Americans often have to wait longer for local election workers to tabulate votes, compile results and declare winners. — Stephanie Leiser, The Conversation, 12 Aug. 2026

After the 2020 votes were tabulated and the Electoral College cast its ballots, dozens of courts rejected election fraud claims for lack of sufficient evidence, and state officials from both parties certified the results. — James Robenalt, Vanity Fair, 27 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Latin tabula tablet

First Known Use

Verb

1734, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for tabulate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

Kids Definition

tabulate

verb

tab·​u·​late ˈtab-yə-ˌlāt 

tabulated; tabulating

: to count and record in an orderly way

tabulate votes

tabulation

ˌtab-yə-ˈlā-shən 

noun

tabulator

ˈtab-yə-ˌlāt-ər 

noun