totaled or totalled; totaling or totalling
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
Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 25 May 2026
The light fades as divers disappear farther into a cave system, until the greenish hue from their flashlight is all that’s visible, bouncing off walls, picking out creatures humans might never have seen before, and illuminating a world otherwise confined to total darkness.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 25 May 2026
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 June 2026
In total, the campaign collected a total of 7,500 legitimate signatures, 2,500 short of the state requirement.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
Data Skrive, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Monthly taxes and common charges total about $50,000, covering a 24-hour doorman and concierge services.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 27 May 2026
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
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Adjective
Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
—Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 25 May 2026
The light fades as divers disappear farther into a cave system, until the greenish hue from their flashlight is all that’s visible, bouncing off walls, picking out creatures humans might never have seen before, and illuminating a world otherwise confined to total darkness.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 25 May 2026
Noun
There are a total of seven restaurants on the island, all perfectly placed in spectacular settings.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 June 2026
In total, the campaign collected a total of 7,500 legitimate signatures, 2,500 short of the state requirement.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
Verb
In 79 games played, Sebastian Aho has totaled 80 points (27 goals and 53 assists).
—Data Skrive, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Monthly taxes and common charges total about $50,000, covering a 24-hour doorman and concierge services.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 27 May 2026
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
Cite this Entry
“Total.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/total. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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 noun1
: 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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