total

1 of 4

adjective

to·​tal ˈtō-tᵊl How to pronounce total (audio)
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
He was sacked three times for a total loss of 17 yards. Max Dible, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2025 Most likely total snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches above 5000 feet with 1 to 2 feet above pass level. Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 10 Nov. 2025
Noun
Since the start of the season, Arsenal have played 17 matches in total, winning 14, drawing twice, and losing just once, by an aggregate score of 35-5. James McNicholas, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025 And to date, worldwide flight time on Cirrus aircraft totals over 19 million hours. Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
Major League Baseball suspended five players in June 2024, including a lifetime ban for San Diego infielder Tucupita Marcano for allegedly placing 387 baseball bets with a legal sportsbook totaling more than $150,000. NPR, 9 Nov. 2025 Today, pieces by Arunashi—such as a statement cuff made of carbon fiber framed by pavé diamonds and centered on a lozenge-shape green beryl totaling more than 34 carats—are stocked at upscale stores including Marissa Collections. Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 9 Nov. 2025
Adverb
Collecting three weeks total atop the Billboard 200, Eternal Sunshine got a second life earlier this year with a deluxe edition released a few months after the November premiere of Wicked. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 27 Aug. 2025 Hot 100 and 45 weeks total on the chart. Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 25 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for total

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of total was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Total.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/total. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

total

1 of 3 adjective
to·​tal ˈtōt-ᵊl How to pronounce total (audio)
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
2
: to amount to
donations totaled $120
3
: to make a total wreck of
totaled the car

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