noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

toll

toh

Toll (noun) means a fee charged for using a road, bridge, or similar route. Example: “There's a two-dollar toll to cross the bridge.”

noun

A fee charged for using a road, bridge, or similar route.

"There's a two-dollar toll to cross the bridge."

The damage, loss, or number of casualties caused by an event.

"The death toll from the earthquake continued to rise."

"The long hours were taking a toll on his health."

verb

To ring a bell slowly and repeatedly, especially to mark a death or announce something solemn.

"The church bell tolled for the funeral procession."

How to use toll

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA fee for using something (like a road), or the damage/cost an event causes; also, the slow ringing of a bell.

Common pairings

toll road death toll take a toll on toll booth

Word forms

tolled past tense, tolled past tense, tolled past tense, tolled past tense, tolls plural, tolls plural, tolls singular, tolls singular, tolls singular, tolls singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “toll” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

There's a two-dollar _____ to cross the bridge.

Etymology

From Old English "toll" ("duty, custom"), from a Germanic root meaning "that which is counted or reckoned" — related to "tell" and "tale."

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

View more →

charge levy tariff cost knell peal

Related words

point level cost price tax attack bill charge

Rhymes for toll

doll roll moll poll Holl troll knoll droll Kroll stroll scroll

See all rhymes for toll →

Frequently asked questions

What does “toll” mean?

The word “toll” means a fee charged for using a road, bridge, or similar route. In plain terms, a fee for using something (like a road), or the damage/cost an event causes; also, the slow ringing of a bell.

How do you pronounce “toll”?

“Toll” is pronounced toh ([tʰo(ʊ̯)ɫ] in IPA).

How do you use “toll” in a sentence?

Here is “toll” used in a sentence: “There's a two-dollar toll to cross the bridge.”

What part of speech is “toll”?

Depending on how it is used, “toll” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “toll” come from?

The word “toll” comes from Old English. From Old English "toll" ("duty, custom"), from a Germanic root meaning "that which is counted or reckoned" — related to "tell" and "tale.".

Is “toll” a common word?

“Toll” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “toll” have?

“Toll” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a fee charged for using a road, bridge, or similar route.

What is the difference between a toll and a fare?

A toll is a fee charged for using a road, bridge, or similar route, and is usually paid by the driver. A fare is the price paid to ride public transport such as a bus, train, or taxi.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include toll:

Words that end with L Words that start with T

People also searched

point level cost price tax attack bill charge