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
Adjective
In total, more than 43,000 officers were assaulted that year. Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2024 There are eight food and beverage concepts in total, ranging from the intimate, 20-seat lobby bar hideout, Bitter Honey, to the secret speakeasy and cigar lounge, Txakolina, tucked away behind a service door on the 18th floor. Chrissie McClatchie, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2024 Texas State Parks — and there are six in Fort Worth — will begin taking reservations March 8 at 8 a.m, a full month before the April 8 total solar eclipse. Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2024 According to Bloomberg's list of billionaires, the richest people in the world are: Jeff Bezos, with a total net worth of $200 billion Elon Musk, $198 billion Bernard Arnault, $197 billion Mark Zuckerberg, $179 billion Bill Gates, $150 billion Where does Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel rank? Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 5 Mar. 2024 The last total eclipse in North America took place in 2017—and this year is the last time a total solar eclipse will cross North American for more than 20 years, which is driving the interest in the phenomenon. Bychris Morris, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2024 For North Americans, nothing will compare until the total solar eclipse of 2045, and for Canadians not until 2079. George Dvorsky / Gizmodo, Quartz, 4 Mar. 2024 But even if there were nearly as many punts (14) as total points in a game where New England matched Pittsburgh with its sixth Lombardi – while putting a dent in McVay's genius label – this matchup wasn't lacking for drama. Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024 The over/under total goals is 2-5 (two overs) in those seven contests. Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024
Noun
The package included a groom by himself on the top of a wedding cake, the number one on a watch, two gold cleats, two dice showing a total of five and a Most Lovable trophy. Dana Rose Falcone, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024 Republicans have a total of 2,429 delegates this year, and the nominee will need to garner 1,215 delegates to be proclaimed the winner. Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2024 Roughly 1,000 skeletons of plague victims have so far been found in mass graves in the center of the city of Nuremberg, which experts believe may contain a total of more than 1,500 people, according to a press release published Tuesday. Jack Guy, CNN, 6 Mar. 2024 The California Department of Finance estimates that the Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond within Proposition 1 would cost a total of $14 billion. Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024 Altogether there are a total of 20 songs (not counting the CD bonus tracks), which are presented in detail below. Billboard Japan, Billboard, 6 Mar. 2024 The government had recommended a total of 71 months in prison — one month more than what the judge handed down — three years’ supervised release and $2,000 restitution. Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2024 Trump needs a total of 1,215 delegates to clinch the nomination. Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2024 When the stabilization is complete, there will be a total of 2,098 feet of walls, according to SANDAG. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024
Verb
According to the Four Lakes Task Force, a volunteer group of property owners, the operations and maintenance assessment totaling $8.8 million would be for five years, from 2025 through 2029, while the capital improvement assessment totaling $217.7 million would be for 40 years. Jennifer Dixon, Detroit Free Press, 5 Mar. 2024 While the suit says the district covered Dallin’s burial expenses, his parents are seeking coverage of his medical expenses, totaling about $90,000, as well as any other damages determined at trial. Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 5 Mar. 2024 The condo was built in 1978 and the living area totals 1,112 square feet. Bay Area Home Report, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2024 Last year, Rutledge took home $19.5 million in overall pay, mostly in the form of option awards totaling $15 million. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Mar. 2024 Before Sunday, both of NASCAR’s national series races at Las Vegas totaled just four cautions each, including the two for stage breaks. Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 4 Mar. 2024 Its shareholders' equity was reported at $11.25 billion, while its cash and cash equivalents totaled $4.68 billion. Gurufocus, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 In that year alone, the costs of damages to homes, roads, and other infrastructure from extreme weather totaled over $90 billion. Alejandra Borunda, NPR, 29 Feb. 2024 According to consumer borrowing data from the Federal Reserve, total student debt at the end of last year totaled more than $1.7 trillion. Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024
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 Battery life tops 8 hours between charges, or up to 28 hours total with the charging case. Marc Saltzman, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2022 Tom Brady, the greatest winner of this generation, has won total. Christopher L. Gasper, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Aug. 2022 What makes his opinions potentially tricky is the fact that Britain has a constitutional monarchy, which is very different from the type of absolute monarchies that wield total, undemocratic political power in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. Alexander Smith, NBC News, 8 Sep. 2022 The offensive player to watch is C Logan Gallina (.333, 21 HR, 62 RBIs), the only Aggies player with a double-digit home run total. San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2022 Last year, there were five ozone action days total. Liliana Webb, Detroit Free Press, 11 July 2022 Golden Gate, with a difficulty rating of 5.13b, contains 41 pitches total, with the toughest ones awaiting in the final ten, which is partly what makes the route such a demanding one to free-climb within 24 hours. Andrew Bisharat, Outside Online, 6 Nov. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'total.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near total

Cite this Entry

“Total.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/total. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on total

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