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tote

1 of 4

verb (1)

toted; toting

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
There’s a time and place for duffel bags, but the airport is arguably not the best place for toting around heavy loads on one sore shoulder. Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 25 Nov. 2025 Black heroes on horseback included both men and women, like the gun-toting stagecoach driver Mary Fields and legendary steer wrestler Bill Picket. James Edward Mills, Outside, 25 Nov. 2025
Noun
These totes have accompanied us from Puerto Rico to Spain, London, Germany, and beyond, and will prove to be valuable investments into your own travel gear collection, as well. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 24 Nov. 2025 Peep swathed-in-suede shoulder bags here, as well as commuter totes, crossbodies, and stylish top-handle satchels that align with fall 2025 trends peeped on runways. Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 24 Nov. 2025 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 26 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

tote

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

More from Merriam-Webster on tote

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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