tote

1 of 4

verb (1)

toted; toting

transitive verb

1
: to carry by hand : bear on the person : lug, pack
2
toter noun

tote

2 of 4

noun (1)

1
2

tote

3 of 4

verb (2)

toted; toting

transitive verb

: add, total
usually used with up
toted up his accomplishmentsG. P. Morrill

tote

4 of 4

noun (2)

Examples of tote in a Sentence

Verb (1) toted his dog from the muddy backyard to the bathtub for a thorough washing
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The popular bag makes traveling a breeze thanks to its compact size that meets carry-on guidelines, lightweight build that’s easy to tote around, and hardshell exterior that keeps items inside from spilling or breaking. Gabriella Maestri, Travel + Leisure, 18 May 2024 Last month, Saweetie posted a preview of the song on Insta, rapping a bit of the sing-songy chorus while strutting near a swimming pool and toting a tiny purse. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 15 May 2024 Yoshiki usually totes dishes from the table to the sink, Haruki scrubs them clean and Kikuma disposes of food waste while delegating responsibilities to his brothers. Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 10 May 2024 On another assignment for the Monitor, Mr. Zadran recalls being followed by a motorcycle-riding Talib toting an AK-47. Mark Sappenfield, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 May 2024 On the florals front, Camila Cabello carried a block of (melting!) ice with a rose frozen inside from Jane Wade, and Tessa Thompson and Cole Escola both toted fresh flowers. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 7 May 2024 Trimmed with cognac-colored leather with stripes running down either side and a simple tie closure, this bucket bag is structured without being bulky — and has enough space to tote a laptop or books. Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 6 May 2024 Kim Kardashian, who toted her own Birkin bag to an NBA game earlier this year, would probably say no. Sam Reed, Glamour, 3 May 2024 The 30-ounce size is a great Stanley option for the mom who wants solid hydration but doesn’t want to tote around a huge canister. Leonora Epstein, Peoplemag, 3 May 2024
Noun
And right now, the retailer is having a huge sale on hundreds of items, with discounts of over 70 percent off on totes, wristlets, earrings, and much more. Rachel Simon, Southern Living, 9 May 2024 This can help with setting up the totes and deciding what plants will grow better together and what plants will be too overbearing for others and should get their own tote. Annisa Charles, Orange County Register, 8 May 2024 In summer, these bags often double as beach totes, stuffed with Turkish towels and espadrilles. Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 6 May 2024 Williams Sonoma Market Tote Buy on Williams-Sonoma Make Grandma’s trips to the grocery store or farmer's market more stylish and organized with this heavy-duty market tote. Lizzy Briskin, Peoplemag, 3 May 2024 Maybe get really wild and send her one of our gorgeous market totes in SAVEUR’s signature tomato red. Saveur Editors, Saveur, 25 Apr. 2024 According to the Office of Public Affairs, Gonzalez and her associates smuggled hundreds of designer purses, handbags and totes by having friends, family and employees wear or place them inside luggage while traveling on passenger airlines. USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2024 Like the totes, there's nothing terribly unique about the product, but there's tons of excitement from the market—fueled, in large part, by the zeal of TikTok content creators. Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024 This tote, made from lightweight Italian leather, is a literal use-it-forever piece. Perrie Samotin, Glamour, 29 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tote.' 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

Verb (1)

probably from an English-based creole; akin to Gullah & Krio tot to carry, of Bantu origin; akin to Kikongo -tota to pick up, Kimbundu -tuta to carry

Verb (2)

English dialect tote, noun, total

Noun (2)

short for totalizator

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1677, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

circa 1772, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb (2)

1888, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1891, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tote was in 1677

Dictionary Entries Near tote

Cite this Entry

“Tote.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tote. Accessed 23 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

tote

verb
ˈtōt
toted; toting
: to carry by hand
toter noun

More from Merriam-Webster on tote

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