tote

1 of 4

verb (1)

toted; toting
Synonyms of tote

transitive verb

1
: to carry by hand : bear on the person : lug, pack
2
toter noun

tote

2 of 4

noun (1)

1
2

tote

3 of 4

verb (2)

toted; toting

transitive verb

: add, total
usually used with up
toted up his accomplishments …G. P. Morrill

tote

4 of 4

noun (2)

Examples of tote in a Sentence

Verb (1) toted his dog from the muddy backyard to the bathtub for a thorough washing
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.
Verb
Dozens of people carrying American flags and toting MAGA gear gathered outside Sheron’s home Friday to show support for him and his wife. Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026 Riley kept moving, crashing parties at the Sundance Film Festival and toting the screenplay everywhere, honing his pitch. Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 17 May 2026
Noun
Béis has expanded its offerings over the last few years to include kid-friendly luggage, stylish diaper bags, gym bags, commuter totes, and even fun, limited-edition color drops and collaborations. Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 May 2026 The tote harnesses one of 2026’s trendiest materials — raffia — and pairs it with the kind of full-grain leather that even smells the way leather should. Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 27 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for tote

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

probably from an English-based creole; akin to Gullah & Krio tot to carry, of Bantu origin; akin to Kikongo -tota to pick up, Kimbundu -tuta to carry

Verb (2)

English dialect tote, noun, total

Noun (2)

short for totalizator

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1677, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

circa 1772, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb (2)

1830, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tote was in 1677

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tote.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tote. Accessed 31 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

tote

verb
ˈtōt
toted; toting
: to carry by hand
toter noun

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