total

1 of 4

adjective

to·​tal ˈtō-tᵊl 

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

• absolute
• all-out
• arrant
• blank
• blooming [chiefly British]
• bodacious [Southern & Midland]
• categorical
• categoric
• clean
• complete
• consummate
• crashing
• damn
• damned
• dead
• deadly
• definite
• downright
• dreadful
• fair
• flat
• flat-out
• out-and-out
• outright
• perfect
• plumb
• profound
• pure
• rank
• regular
• sheer
• simple
• stark
• stone
• straight-out
• thorough
• thoroughgoing
• unadulterated
• unalloyed
• unconditional
• unmitigated
• unqualified
• utter
• very

Noun

• aggregate
• full
• sum
• sum total
• summation
• totality
• whole

Verb

• add up (to)
• aggregate
• amount (to)
• come (to)
• count (up to)
• number
• sum (to or into)

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.

What was the total amount of the bill?

the total number of words

The country has a total population of about 100 million.

Noun

a total of 25 square miles

that's the total for our wheat harvest this year

Verb

He carefully totaled the bill.

two and two total four

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Futures pricing reacted to the strong jobs report by slashing the expectations for total Federal Reserve rate cuts in 2025 from two to just one 25 (0.25%) basis point cut. —Bill Stone, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025

The victim complied for a total loss of about $42,000. —Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2025

Noun

The market experienced a steep 22% year-on-year decline, landing at $5.8 billion, its lowest annual total since 2014 and a whopping 27% off its pre-pandemic average. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 Jan. 2025

As such, those totals should be added together, not separated. —Paul Tassi, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025

Verb

While totaling 35 points on 12-of-23 (52.2 percent) shooting from the field and 7-of-15 (46.7 percent) from three-point range in Monday’s first quarter, the Heat found itself ahead by as many as 13 points in the opening period. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 14 Jan. 2025

Still under a minutes restriction in just his second game back following a two-plus-month absence due to a torn right abdominal muscle, Banchero continued to play 5- to 6-minute stints to total 27. —Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Jan. 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

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

Phrases Containing total

• come as a (complete/total) surprise
• grand total
• sum total
• the sum total
• total depravity
• total eclipse
• total recall

Kids Definition

total

1 of 3 adjective

to·​tal ˈtōt-ᵊl 

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