total

adjective

to·tal | \ ˈtō-tᵊl

Definition of total

(Entry 1 of 4)

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

noun

Definition of total (Entry 2 of 4)

1 : a product of addition : sum

2 : an entire quantity : amount

total

verb

totaled or totalled; totaling or totalling

Definition of total (Entry 3 of 4)

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

adverb

Definition of total (Entry 4 of 4)

: totally

Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about total

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Choose the Right Synonym for total

Adjective

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

The tours, seven in total, visit Yellowstone National Park, the Canadian Rockies, Utah's national parks and Costa Rica. — Diane Daniel, chicagotribune.com, "'Transformative travel' is the industry's latest twist on making vacations more meaningful," 13 July 2018 In total, Fedak and the crew tagged seven elephant seals found on dry beaches near Pine Island. — Kasha Patel, Smithsonian, "How Data-Gathering Seals Help Scientists Measure the Melting Antarctic," 13 July 2018 Wendy Sinnette provided a tentative update on district enrollment figures for the 2018-19 school year, saying that as of this week, the total student population is at 4,098 and more are likely to be enrolled before the school year begins Aug. 16. — Sara Cardine, latimes.com, "La Cañada Unified officials honor robotics team’s enterprise, prep for new school year," 12 July 2018 In total, six firefighters were taken to the hospital, including the firefighter that died and another who was seriously injured, but expected to recover. — NBC News, "Sun Prairie, Wisconsin explosion: Firefighter dies after natural gas main erupts," 11 July 2018 According to the Post, student debt afflicts as many as 44 million Americans, with the total amount owed in the United States exceeding $1.3 trillion. — Aurelie Corinthios, PEOPLE.com, "New Game Show Will Pay Off Winners' Student Debt: 'An Absurd Show to Match an Absurd Crisis'," 10 July 2018 Only 3% of the counties that voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton, with a total population of 1.1 million, would be so heavily hit. — Josh Zumbrun, WSJ, "Chinese Tariffs Hit Trump Counties Harder," 6 July 2018 According to the Thai National Economic and Social Development Board, the number of people over 60 living in the countryside rose to more than 11 million in 2017 – or 17 percent of the total population. — Prisana Kongwong, The Christian Science Monitor, "Why young professionals are taking up farming in Thailand," 2 July 2018 More than 700,000 Rohingya have since fled across the border into Bangladesh, representing roughly 80% of the group’s total estimated population in northern Rakhine state. — Casey Quackenbush, Time, "Myanmar Military Officials Implicated in Crimes Against Humanity for Role in Rohingya Violence," 28 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

In fiscal year 2017, a total of 485 charges were filed, with the majority of the cases being resolved outside of state and federal court. — Kimberlee Kruesi, idahostatesman, "In wake of #MeToo, Idaho sees dramatic increase in sexual harassment claims," 12 July 2018 And a total of 15 women have been hired by 10 NFL clubs for training camp internships in 2018. — Jenny Vrentas, SI.com, "For Many NFL Players, Summer Doesn't Bring Much of a Break," 9 July 2018 Mike Woodson 2,061 points from 1976-80 And that total could have been much greater. — Scott Horner, Indianapolis Star, "Here are IU basketball's career scoring leaders," 8 July 2018 The total is considerably smaller when compared to her husband, Prince Charles, who is worth a cool $100 million, says Go Banking Rates. — Kayla Keegan, Good Housekeeping, "How Camilla Parker Bowles Gained a Large Net Worth Even Before Marrying Prince Charles," 6 July 2018 In 2017, a total of 31 whales were confirmed entangled off the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington. — Anchorage Daily News, "Whale strandings off Washington-Oregon coast highest in nearly 2 decades," 3 July 2018 Most of the 151 employees will lose their jobs, although the exact total is not yet known, the Southeast/Mednax spokesperson said. — Deon Roberts, charlotteobserver, "The extent of anesthesiology layoffs at Atrium hospitals is detailed for first time," 3 July 2018 In 2017, a total of 31 whales were confirmed entangled off the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington. — Lynda V. Mapes, The Seattle Times, "Whale strandings off Washington-Oregon coast highest in nearly 2 decades," 2 July 2018 Orange County Fire Rescue responded to the incident and took three people to the hospital, though spokeswoman Ashley Gipson said a total of eight patients were treated. — Bianca Padró Ocasio, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Lockheed Martin employees exposed to chlorine, fire rescue says," 27 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

In May the Legislature passed operating and capital budgets totaling roughly $4.7 billion to largely be paid with unrestricted General Fund revenue of about $2.3 billion and about $1.7 billion from the Earnings Reserve Account of the Permanent Fund. — Author: Elwood Brehmer, Anchorage Daily News, "Despite slight production dip, Alaska oil revenue grows in FY18," 13 July 2018 The company’s sales, including its construction business, totaled $1.456 billion, a 2.7 percent increase from $1.418 billion. — Tom Daykin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Dilliard's department store chain could enter Milwaukee area by buying Boston Store sites," 11 July 2018 In the bankruptcy, more than 22,000 claims totaling $102 billion were filed. — John Sowell, idahostatesman, "Meridian businessmen who led fraud scheme that hurt 8,500 investors imprisoned at last," 10 July 2018 As of Monday, around 50 free agents have struck deals totaling more than $1 billion. — Rob Mahoney, SI.com, "The Best Players Left in NBA Free Agency," 9 July 2018 The county’s recently released annual crop report indicates the economic output from agricultural production totaled $1.77 billion last year, a 1.6 percent increase from 2016. — J. Harry Jones, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Farming remains big part of county's economy," 5 July 2018 Floridians total healthcare expenditure totals more than $132 billion, equaling approximately $7,100 per person, a figure higher than the national average of $6.800. — miamiherald, "Leigh-Ann Buchanan," 30 June 2018 Last year, the Justice Department charged more than 400 people across the country with participating in health-care fraud scams totaling about $1.3 billion in false billings. — Washington Post, "Hundreds charged in health-care fraud sting," 29 June 2018 Between 2006 and 2015, these two groups received 99 percent of the profits, totaling more than $500 billion, generated by 18 of the largest drug companies. — Alexander Zaitchik, The New Republic, "How Big Pharma Was Captured by the One Percent," 28 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb

There were 48 stops total resulting in eight arrests and 19 verbal warnings. — Olivia King, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan State Police ticket crackdown targets Southfield," 3 July 2018 He was charged with two earned runs total after LH Tom Windle (W, 4-2) pitched 2/3 of an inning in relief. — Nick Tricome, Philly.com, "Phillies minor league report: Lehigh Valley, Reading sweep doubleheaders," 27 May 2018 The Angels already have used 11 pitchers to start games and 25 pitchers total, the most ever for the franchise through the first 74 games of a season. — Jeff Miller, latimes.com, "Angels' Tyler Skaggs misses start over hamstring issue," 22 June 2018 Israel predicts that writing and following up on this letter will take your lawyer about three hours total, billed in five or ten-minute increments (so, somewhere between $400 and $900). — Charlotte Cowles, The Cut, "My Ex Boyfriend Owes Me $10,000. How Do I Get Him to Pay Me Back?," 7 June 2018 There were six styles total, ranging in price from $100 to $400—and, notably to many, featured the brand’s name, in lowercase, on the outside. — Halie Lesavage, Glamour, "How Kate Spade Built an Empire: A Timeline," 6 June 2018 Last season: 11-6, not ranked Postseason: IAAM A Conference semifinalist Outlook: The Cavaliers return six starters and nine players total from last year’s team that struggled in nonleague play but finished 8-2 in the A Conference. — C.j. Doon, baltimoresun.com, "2018 softball preseason Top 15 poll," 21 Mar. 2018 Her worldwide album sales total more than 40 million, a number significantly eclipsed by the number of her online streams. — George Varga, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Pink, 17 years into her solo career, bringing her 'Beautiful Trauma' and soaring show to San Diego," 22 May 2018 Final Results Winner and local team (42 teams total): 1. — Lake County News-Sun, "Lake County News-Sun Local Scoreboard for Friday, May 18," 18 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'total.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.