total
TOH-tl
Total (noun) means the full amount reached by adding everything together. Example: “The total came to just over two hundred dollars.”
noun
1
The full amount reached by adding everything together.
"The total came to just over two hundred dollars."
"Add up the bill and tell me the total, please."
"The final total of visitors was higher than we expected."
adj
1
Complete or entire; including everything.
"The project was a total success."
"There was total silence in the room."
"The room fell into total darkness when the power went out."
verb
1
To add up to a particular amount.
"Expenses totalled nearly ten thousand dollars for the trip."
"If you count every box in the warehouse, they total more than two hundred."
"The scores from all four rounds totalled enough to win her the cup."
2
Informal: to wreck a vehicle so badly it isn't worth repairing.
"He totalled his car after skidding on the ice."
"The lorry jumped the lights and totalled my little hatchback in seconds."
"If you totalled another car, would your insurance still cover you?"
How to use total
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe whole amount, or (as an adjective) complete and absolute; informally, to "total" a car means to wreck it completely.
Common pairings
grand total
total amount
totalled the car
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Word forms
- Plural
- totals
- Third person singular
- totals
- Past tense
- totaled, totalled
- Comparative
- more total
- Superlative
- most total
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ came to just over two hundred dollars.
Etymology
From Old French total, from Medieval Latin totalis, from Latin totus, "all, whole, entire."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for total
See all rhymes for total →Frequently asked questions
What does “total” mean?
The word “total” means the full amount reached by adding everything together. In plain terms, the whole amount, or (as an adjective) complete and absolute; informally, to "total" a car means to wreck it completely.
How do you pronounce “total”?
“Total” is pronounced TOH-tl (/ˈtoʊ.tl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “total” in a sentence?
Here is “total” used in a sentence: “The total came to just over two hundred dollars.”
What is another word for “total”?
Words with a similar meaning to “total” include full, whole, absolute, complete, utter and abject.
What is the opposite of “total”?
The opposite of “total” — its antonyms — are attenuated, conditional, depleted, half-assed and half-baked.
What part of speech is “total”?
Depending on how it is used, “total” can be a noun, an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “total” come from?
The word “total” comes from Medieval Latin. From Old French total, from Medieval Latin totalis, from Latin totus, "all, whole, entire.".
Is “total” a common word?
“Total” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between a total and a sum?
In everyday use the two are almost interchangeable, and both mean the result of adding numbers. Sum tends to describe the result of a single addition, while total often suggests the final, complete figure after everything has been counted — the total on a bill, the sum of two numbers.
What is the difference between a total and a subtotal?
A subtotal is the sum of one part of a list — for example, the cost of goods before tax and delivery. The total is the final figure once every subtotal and additional charge has been added together. Subtotals are stepping stones; the total is the full amount owed or reached.
How do you find a total?
You find a total by adding every individual amount together until nothing is left out. On a receipt, that means summing the price of each item, plus any tax or charges. The total is complete only when every relevant figure has been included in the addition.
What is an example of a total?
If a shopping basket holds items at £3, £5 and £2, the total is £10. A team's total points across a season, or the total rainfall for a year, work the same way — every individual figure added together to give one complete, final amount.
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