Total
/ˈtoʊ.təl/
Definitions
3 meaningsThe whole amount or number; the sum of everything.
/ˈtoʊ.təl/
The whole amount.
The total score at the end of the game was very close.
💡 Simply: The total is like adding everything up to see how much you have, like when you count all your toys or the money in your piggy bank.
👶 For kids: The total is like the answer when you add everything up.
More Examples
The shop's total sales for the day were impressive.
How It's Used
"The total cost of the project was $10,000."
"Calculate the total of these numbers."
Comprising the whole; complete.
/ˈtoʊ.təl/
Relating to or constituting the whole; entire.
The total number of students in the class is 25.
💡 Simply: If something is total, it means it's everything. Like a total pizza means the whole pizza, not just a slice!
👶 For kids: Total means all of it, the whole thing.
More Examples
A total of 100 people attended the event.
How It's Used
"The total area of the island is quite large."
"A total ban was imposed on smoking in public places."
To calculate the whole amount of something; to sum up.
/ˈtoʊ.təl/
To find the total of; add up.
I need to total all the receipts at the end of the day.
💡 Simply: To total something means to add everything together to find out the whole amount. Like totaling all your test scores.
👶 For kids: Total means to add everything up.
More Examples
The accountant is totaling the company's assets.
How It's Used
"Can you total these expenses for me?"
"Let's total the scores after each round."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
in total
As a whole; altogether.
"The cost of the trip was $500 in total."
total recall
The ability to remember something completely and accurately.
"The witness had total recall of the events."
From Middle French *total* (14th c.) and directly from Late Latin *totalis* 'of the whole', from Latin *totus* 'whole, entire'.
Used since the 14th century, the word 'total' has consistently been used in its sense of wholeness and entirety in various contexts.
Memory tip
Think of the *tote* bag—it holds everything.
Word Origin
"totus (whole, entire)"