tote

1 of 4

verb (1)

toted; toting
Synonyms of totenext

transitive verb

1
: to carry by hand : bear on the person : lug, pack
2
toter noun

tote

2 of 4

noun (1)

1
2

tote

3 of 4

verb (2)

toted; toting

transitive verb

: add, total
usually used with up
toted up his accomplishments …G. P. Morrill

tote

4 of 4

noun (2)

Examples of tote in a Sentence

Verb (1) toted his dog from the muddy backyard to the bathtub for a thorough washing
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Working from home, clocking long hours, when suddenly a DoorDash delivery driver arrives toting a big paper McDonald's brown bag. Jay Stahl, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2026 And this year, his mom, Rosie, got to witness her son win the Masters for a second time, all while toting around a custom purse with a 2025 newspaper article announcing his career slam printed on it. Sydney Lake, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2026
Noun
This customizable, striped tote easily transforms a simple base outfit without overwhelming your entire wardrobe. Gabrielle Porcaro, Travel + Leisure, 18 Apr. 2026 There are authors and booths everywhere, and plenty of totes and bookish merch to get your hands on. Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tote

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

probably from an English-based creole; akin to Gullah & Krio tot to carry, of Bantu origin; akin to Kikongo -tota to pick up, Kimbundu -tuta to carry

Verb (2)

English dialect tote, noun, total

Noun (2)

short for totalizator

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1677, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

circa 1772, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb (2)

1830, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tote was in 1677

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tote.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tote. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

tote

verb
ˈtōt
toted; toting
: to carry by hand
toter noun

More from Merriam-Webster on tote

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster