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

The rest of the sets from the group that have placed on the tally are compilations, box sets, and various live recordings, including this latest effort. —Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025

The song jumps to No. 2, after appearing at No. 8 on the January tally, via 16.5 million streams and 1,000 downloads in February. —Kevin Rutherford, Billboard, 26 Mar. 2025

Verb

Hot 100 chart, tallying the week from March 17 to 23, here. —Billboard Japan, Billboard, 26 Mar. 2025

Last season, the 2020 third-round pick tallied 46 tackles, two sacks, three tackles for loss and six pressures, according to PFF. —Mike Defabo, New York Times, 26 Mar. 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