total

1 of 4

adjective

to·​tal ˈtō-tᵊl 

1

: comprising or constituting a whole : entire

the total amount

2

: absolute, utter

a total failure

a total stranger

3

: involving a complete and unified effort especially to achieve a desired effect

total war

total theater

total

2 of 4

noun

1

: a product of addition : sum

2

: an entire quantity : amount

total

3 of 4

verb

totaled or totalled; totaling or totalling

transitive verb

1

: to add up : compute

2

: to amount to : number

3

: to make a total wreck of : demolish

specifically : to damage so badly that the cost of repairs exceeds the market value of the vehicle

totaled the car

total

4 of 4

adverb

: totally

Synonyms

Adjective

• absolute
• all-out
• arrant
• blank
• blooming [chiefly British]
• bodacious [Southern & Midland]
• categorical
• categoric
• clean
• complete
• consummate
• crashing
• damn
• damned
• dead
• deadly
• definite
• downright
• dreadful
• fair
• flat
• flat-out
• out-and-out
• outright
• perfect
• plumb
• profound
• pure
• rank
• regular
• sheer
• simple
• stark
• stone
• straight-out
• thorough
• thoroughgoing
• unadulterated
• unalloyed
• unconditional
• unmitigated
• unqualified
• utter
• very

Noun

• aggregate
• full
• sum
• sum total
• summation
• totality
• whole

Verb

• add up (to)
• aggregate
• amount (to)
• come (to)
• count (up to)
• number
• sum (to or into)

Choose the Right Synonym for total

whole, entire, total, all mean including everything or everyone without exception.

whole implies that nothing has been omitted, ignored, abated, or taken away.

read the whole book

entire may suggest a state of completeness or perfection to which nothing can be added.

the entire population was wiped out

total implies that everything has been counted, weighed, measured, or considered.

the total number of people present

all may equal whole, entire, or total.

all proceeds go to charity

Examples of total in a Sentence

Adjective

a total lack of support

a total eclipse of the sun

He demanded total control of the project.

What was the total amount of the bill?

the total number of words

The country has a total population of about 100 million.

Noun

a total of 25 square miles

that's the total for our wheat harvest this year

Verb

He carefully totaled the bill.

two and two total four

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Even the largest Pell Grant amount available may not seem like a lot of money compared with the total cost of attendance, which can be close to $90,000 a year at some schools. —Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 16 July 2024

By 2050, those over age 50 will account for an estimated 44% — or $341 billion — of the state's total GDP, according to AARP's Longevity Economy Outlook. —Alex Fitzpatrick, Axios, 16 July 2024

Noun

The office and research building totals 64,000 square feet. —George Avalos, The Mercury News, 17 July 2024

The doubling of its overall total is the most significant Emmy nomination increase by a network, year over year, during that period. —Clayton Davis, Variety, 17 July 2024

Verb

Under Biden, the number of people who have been apprehended illegally entering the U.S. total more than the populations of 44 individual states and 155 countries. —Bethany Blankley | The Center Square Contributor, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 18 July 2024

Net bookings — a key metric for the market, marking orders for ASML machinery — totaled 5.6 billion euros in the June quarter, rising more than 24% year-on-year. —Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 17 July 2024

Adverb

Dunning upped his innings pitched total from 117 in 2021 to 153, which was the biggest marker of progress for him on the season. —Dallas News, 26 Sep. 2022

Phiaton rates the buds as offering 11 hours if continuous use, and up to 28 hours total with the charging case. —Andy Meek, BGR, 22 Dec. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin totalis, from Latin totus whole, entire

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1557, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1716, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

1601, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing total

• come as a (complete/total) surprise
• grand total
• sum total
• the sum total
• total depravity
• total eclipse
• total recall

Kids Definition

total

1 of 3 adjective

to·​tal ˈtōt-ᵊl 

1

: of or relating to the whole of something

a total eclipse of the sun

2

: making up the whole

the total amount

3

: being such to the fullest degree

total ruin

4

: making use of every means to do something

total war

total

2 of 3 noun

1

: a product of addition : sum

2

: an entire amount

total

3 of 3 verb

totaled or totalled; totaling or totalling

1

: add sense 3

2

: to amount to

donations totaled $120

3

: to make a total wreck of

totaled the car