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
Kelly has called for the total cost of tax cuts not to exceed roughly $425 million a year, a limit her aides say includes all tax changes passed by the Legislature, not just this bill.—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2024 Saudi Arabia carried out the second highest number of executions, killing at least 172 people this year, which is approximately 15% of the total number of executions tallied by Amnesty in 2023.—Anna Gordon, TIME, 29 May 2024
Noun
And county commissioners already added more than $10 million in spending at their budget meeting Thursday, bringing the total to more than $129.7 million.—Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 30 May 2024 Additionally, the crows paused before cawing correctly, showing longer reaction times before producing higher totals of vocalizations.—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 May 2024
Verb
In fiscal year 2022, his salary and disbursements totaled $319,207, the union’s annual report shows.—Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2024 The condo was built in 1995 and the living area totals 982 square feet.—Bay Area Home Report, The Mercury News, 28 May 2024
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 See all Example Sentences for total
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'total.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin totalis, from Latin totus whole, entire
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