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

These latest results continue what was a reversal from trailing for six days to leading, which first occurred after the ballot counting tally of June 8 when Measure ER barely leapfrogged into the lead. —Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 10 June 2026

Stankoven’s opening goal was also from the low slot, while Blake’s tally was a backdoor one-timer. —Michael Russo, New York Times, 10 June 2026

Verb

Roughly 23,000 ballots remain to be tallied, with the majority of the vote count expected to be completed by Friday, said Ken Casparis, a county elections spokesperson. —Reeti Malhotra june 9, Sacbee.com, 10 June 2026

Jay Thammavongsa paced Eastview with 11 kills, while Brice Dehnel tallied 18 assists. —Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 10 June 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