First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1total
adjective to·tal \ˈtō-təl\
: complete or absolute
: after everything or everyone is counted
Full Definition of TOTAL
1
: comprising or constituting a whole : entire <the total amount>
3
: involving a complete and unified effort especially to achieve a desired effect <total war> <total theater>
See total defined for English-language learners
See total defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of TOTAL
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin totalis, from Latin totus whole, entire
Related to TOTAL
- Synonyms
- all-out, arrant, blank, blooming [chiefly British], bodacious [Southern & Midland], categorical (also categoric), clean, complete, consummate, cotton-picking, 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, absolute, unadulterated, unalloyed, unconditional, unmitigated, unqualified, utter, very
- Antonyms
- imperfect, incomplete, partial
Synonym Discussion of 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>.
2total
noun
: the number or amount of everything counted
Full Definition of TOTAL
1
: a product of addition : sum
2
: an entire quantity : amount
See total defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of TOTAL
1557
Other Mathematics and Statistics Terms
Rhymes with TOTAL
3total
adverb
4total
transitive verb
: to produce (a total) when added together
: to add numbers together to find out the total
: to damage (something, such as a car) so badly that it is not worth repairing
to·taled or to·talledto·tal·ing or to·tal·ling
Full Definition of TOTAL
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>
First Known Use of TOTAL
1716
Related to TOTAL
- Synonyms
- add up (to), aggregate, come (to), count (up to), number, sum (to or into), amount (to)
Other Mathematics and Statistics Terms
TOTAL[1] Defined for Kids
1total
adjective to·tal \ˈtō-təl\
Definition of TOTAL for Kids
1
: being such to the fullest degree <total ruin>
2
: making up the whole <I collected the total amount.>
3
: of or relating to the whole of something <a total eclipse of the sun>
4
: making use of every means to do something <total war>
— to·tal·ly adverb
2total
noun
Definition of TOTAL for Kids
: the entire number or amount counted : sum
3total
verb
to·taled or to·talledto·tal·ing or to·tal·ling
Definition of TOTAL for Kids
1
: to add up <Did you total the scores?>
2
: to amount to : number <Donations totaled five hundred dollars.>
Learn More About TOTAL
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: total abstinencePrevious Word in the Dictionary: totableAll Words Near: total
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up total? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).