tally

1 of 2

noun

tal·​ly ˈta-lē 

plural tallies

1

a

: a recorded reckoning or account (as of items or charges)

keep a daily tally of accidents

b

: a score or point made (as in a game)

2

: a device (such as a notched rod or mechanical counter) for visibly recording or accounting especially business transactions

3

a

: a part that corresponds to an opposite or companion member : complement

b

: a state of correspondence or agreement

tally

2 of 2

verb

tallied; tallying

transitive verb

1

a

: to record on or as if on a tally : tabulate

b

: to list or check off (something, such as a cargo) by items

c

: to register (a score) in a contest

2

: to make a count of : reckon

3

: to cause to correspond

intransitive verb

1

a

: to make a tally by or as if by tabulating

b

: to register a point in a contest : score

2

: correspond, match

Synonyms

Noun

• census
• count
• tale

Verb

• accord
• agree
• answer
• check
• chord
• cohere
• coincide
• comport
• conform
• consist
• correspond
• dovetail
• fit
• go
• harmonize
• jibe
• rhyme
• rime
• sort
• square

Examples of tally in a Sentence

Noun

What is the final tally?

Her second goal turned out to be the game-winning tally.

Verb

He tallied his expenses every day.

The numbers on the old list and the new list don't tally.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

By the end of 2019, measles cases that year added up to the largest annual tally since endemic spread of the virus was declared eliminated in 2000. —Faris Tanyos, CBS News, 2 May 2025

Sour is also a Strong Performer Sour isn’t far behind its successor on either tally. —Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025

Verb

But a plan for the underdogs to gun for Joe failed to blossom, and when the results were tallied, Star was sent packing by a vote of 5-3. —Nick Caruso, TVLine, 1 May 2025

Hot 100 chart, tallying the week from April 21 to 27, here. —Billboard Japan, Billboard, 1 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English talye, from Anglo-French talie, taille, in part from tailler to cut, measure, count; in part from Medieval Latin tallia, alteration of Latin talea plant cutting, thin piece of wood

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for tally

• alley
• alli
• bally
• calli
• challis
• dally
• galley
• galli
• lally
• mallee
• mally
• rally

Kids Definition

tally

1 of 2 noun

tal·​ly ˈtal-ē 

plural tallies

1

: a device for keeping a count

2

a

: a recorded account

b

: a total recorded

3

: a score or point made (as in a game)

tally

2 of 2 verb

tallied; tallying

1

: to keep a count of

2

: to make a tally : score

3

: correspond sense 1, agree