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

The double-digit number of people laid off may be a small fraction of the 10,000 total layoffs at HHS, but the cuts included the person who determines what funds each state receives for the program. —Medora Lee, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025

In 2024, there were 285 total cases nationwide with no deaths reported by the CDC. —Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 19 Apr. 2025

Noun

Half of states in the US are now reporting measles cases, with the national total surpassing 800 cases so far this year, according to a CNN tally. —Neha Mukherjee, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025

New members who join the program in May will be automatically entered to win, and a total of 12 winners will be selected at random, the chain said in a news release. —Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 18 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

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

Rhymes for total

• motile
• anecdotal
• hypocotyl
• sacerdotal
• subtotal

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