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

In-house now outpaces Big Law as a percentage of total legal spend, a reflection of corporate buyers’ search for alternatives to the legacy firm model. —Mark A. Cohen, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025

In total, federal authorities allege Reis and four co-conspirators applied for a license for more than 1,000 people, including more than 600 who were able to fraudulently get a license through the scheme. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2025

Noun

Sun, who has now invested a total of at $75 million in World Liberty Financial, has become an advisor to the company. —Zach Everson, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025

But the two most progressive candidates in the primary, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, got a combined total of more votes, at 37%. —Susan Page, USA Today, 18 June 2025

Verb

In 2021, the sale of the Houston Dynamo was expected to total around $400 million, the Athletic reported. —Annika Merrilees, Sacbee.com, 19 June 2025

Dallas Wings rookie sensation Paige Bueckers totaled 20 points, four rebounds and four steals to snap the Wings’ seven-game losing streak. —Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 18 June 2025

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

Rhymes for total

• motile
• anecdotal
• hypocotyl
• sacerdotal
• subtotal

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