tally

1 of 2

noun

tal·​ly ˈta-lē How to pronounce tally (audio)
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

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
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.
Noun
Mariah Carey’s Career Smashes Throughout her career, Carey has scored only a few top 10 wins on both of these tallies — but that’s largely because they were introduced long after many of her biggest smashes had their heyday. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025 The United States is home to the most millionaires of any country, with a tally of 23.8 million in 2024, according to a new report by UBS. Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 19 June 2025
Verb
Across 79 appearances for Team USA, James tallied 1,137 points (14.4 per game), 342 rebounds (4.3), 308 assists (3.9), and 122 steals (1.5), cementing his legacy as one of the greatest to ever wear the red, white, and blue. Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025 Gabriela Kuruc, Lemont, sophomore, forward: Scored 24 goals and tallied 26 assists for regional champs. Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for tally

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of tally was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tally.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tally. Accessed 25 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

tally

1 of 2 noun
tal·​ly ˈtal-ē How to pronounce tally (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on tally

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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