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1

total

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adjective to·tal \ˈtō-təl\

Definition of total

  1. 1 :  comprising or constituting a whole :  entire the total amount

  2. 2 :  absolute, utter a total failure a total stranger

  3. 3 :  involving a complete and unified effort especially to achieve a desired effect total war total theater

See total defined for English-language learners

See total defined for kids

From the M-W Editors

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Examples of total in a Sentence

  1. a total lack of support

  2. a total eclipse of the sun

  3. He demanded total control of the project.

  4. What was the total amount of the bill?

  5. the total number of words

  6. The country has a total population of about 100 million.

Origin and Etymology of total

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


First Known Use: 14th century

total Synonyms

Synonyms
all-out, arrant, blank, blooming [chiefly British], bodacious [Southern & Midland], categorical (also categoric), clean, complete, consummate, cotton-picking, 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, absolute, unadulterated, unalloyed, unconditional, unmitigated, unqualified, utter, very
Antonyms
imperfect, incomplete, partial
Related Words
authentic, classic, genuine, real, veritable; constant, endless, eternal, perpetual, undying, unremitting; extreme, unrestricted; confirmed, habitual, hopeless, inveterate; extraordinary, frightful, horrible, huge, main, superlative, supreme, surpassing, terrible, terrific
Near Antonyms
doubtful, dubious, equivocal, qualified, questionable, restricted, uncertain

Synonym Discussion of 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
2

total

noun to·tal

Definition of total

  1. 1 :  a product of addition :  sum

  2. 2 :  an entire quantity :  amount

See total defined for English-language learners

Examples of total in a Sentence

  1. a total of 25 square miles

  2. that's the total for our wheat harvest this year

1557

First Known Use of total

1557

total Synonyms

Synonyms
aggregate, full, sum, summation, sum total, whole, totality
Related Words
gross; completeness, comprehensiveness, cumulativeness, entirety; bulk, lion's share, mass; enchilada, schmear
Near Antonyms
net

Other Mathematics and Statistics Terms

abscissa, denominator, divisor, equilateral, exponent, hypotenuse, logarithm, oblique, radii, rhomb

3

total

verb to·tal

Definition of total

totaled

or

totalled

;

totaling

or

totalling
  1. transitive verb

  2. 1 :  to add up :  compute

  3. 2 :  to amount to :  number

  4. 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

See total defined for English-language learners

1716

First Known Use of total

1716

total Synonyms

Synonyms
add up (to), aggregate, come (to), count (up to), number, sum (to or into), amount (to)
Antonyms
build, construct, erect, put up, raise, rear, set up
Related Words
average, equal, measure, reach; compose, comprise, constitute, make up
Near Antonyms
doctor, fix, mend, patch, recondition, repair, revamp; create, invent; assemble, fabricate, fashion, forge, form, frame, make, manufacture, mold, produce, shape; bring about, constitute, establish, father, found, institute, organize; conserve, preserve, protect, save; rebuild, reconstruct, remodel, renovate, restore
4

total

adverb to·tal

Definition of total

  1. :  totally

Examples of total in a Sentence

  1. He carefully totaled the bill.

  2. two and two total four

1601

First Known Use of total

1601

Other Mathematics and Statistics Terms

abscissa, denominator, divisor, equilateral, exponent, hypotenuse, logarithm, oblique, radii, rhomb

Phrases Related to TOTAL

Related Phrases

TOTAL Defined for English Language Learners

total

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adjective

Definition of total for English Language Learners

  • : complete or absolute

  • : after everything or everyone is counted

total

noun

Definition of total for English Language Learners

  • : the number or amount of everything counted

total

verb

Definition of total for English Language Learners

  • : to produce (a total) when added together

  • : to add numbers together to find out the total

  • : to damage (something, such as a car) so badly that it is not worth repairing

TOTAL Defined for Kids

1

total

play
adjective to·tal \ˈtō-təl\

Definition of total for Students

  1. 1 :  being such to the fullest degree total ruin

  2. 2 :  making up the whole I collected the total amount.

  3. 3 :  of or relating to the whole of something a total eclipse of the sun

  4. 4 :  making use of every means to do something total war

totally

adverb
2

total

play
noun to·tal

Definition of total for Students

  1. :  the entire number or amount counted :  sum

3

total

play
verb to·tal

Definition of total for Students

totaled

or

totalled

;

totaling

or

totalling

  1. 1 :  to add up Did you total the scores?

  2. 2 :  to amount to :  number Donations totaled five hundred dollars.

Learn More about total

  1. See words that rhyme with total Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for total Spanish Central: Translation of total Nglish: Translation of total for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of total for Arabic speakers

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