total

1 of 4

adjective

to·​tal ˈtō-tᵊl How to pronounce total (audio)
Synonyms of totalnext
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

: totally

Synonyms

Adjective

Noun

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Move your funds into firms that have a track record of positive long-term gains and out of firms with low long-term total returns. — Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025 Four total doughnuts comprise the collection, including the Hershey's Hershey's Classic Chocolate Doughnut, the Chocolate Salted Caramel Cheesecake Doughnut, the Chocolate Buttercreme Doughnut and the Chocolate Chip Cookie Doughnut. — Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
The vote is not included in the vote total, but their positions are published in the Congressional Record. — Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2025 For anyone doing this for the first time, do be warned this station is extremely small with just six ticket barriers in total. — Caoimhe O'Neill, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
The company’s revenues totalled only $3 million in 2023, the year after its shift of emphasis, but grew almost seven times’ last year to reach $20 million. — David Prosser, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025 The two locations total over 150,000 square feet of parts and stock nearly $25 million in parts inventory. — Jamie L. Lareau, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
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 See All Example Sentences for total

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

Phrases Containing total

Rhymes for total

See All Rhymes for total

Browse Nearby Words

totable
total
total abstinence
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Total.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/total. Accessed 11 Apr. 2025.

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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
: add sense 3
2
: to amount to
donations totaled $120
3
: to make a total wreck of
totaled the car

More from Merriam-Webster on total

Nglish: Translation of total for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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