Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Complete in extent or degree; absolute: Used to describe something that is whole, entire, or without any reduction or exception.
   • Constituting the full quantity or amount: Referring to the entire sum or aggregate of parts.

2. Noun:

   • A quantity obtained by addition; a sum: The final number or amount resulting from adding several numbers or items together.
   • The whole amount: The entirety of something.

3. Verb:

   • To add up; to find the sum of: To calculate the total by combining numbers or amounts.
   • To amount to; to reach as a final sum: To have a particular final amount as a result.
   • To damage beyond the point of repair; to wreck completely: (Informal, especially North American English) To destroy a vehicle, typically in an accident.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The company reported a total loss for the year.
  • We are in total agreement on this matter.
• Noun:
  • What is the total of your monthly expenses?
  • The total came to just over a hundred dollars.
• Verb (to calculate):
  • Please total the bill for the table.
  • She totaled the scores from all the judges.
• Verb (to amount to):
  • The donations total several thousand dollars.
• Verb (to wreck):
  • He totaled his brand-new car in the crash.

Advanced Usage

• In total: As a complete sum; altogether.
  • The project will cost, in total, about half a million dollars.
• A total of: Used to introduce the final sum or number.
  • A total of fifteen people attended the meeting.

Variants and Related Words

• Totality (n): The state of being total; the whole amount or number.
  • We must consider the problem in its totality.
• Totally (adv): Completely; absolutely.
  • I totally understand your point of view.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Complete, entire, full, absolute, utter.
• Noun: Sum, aggregate, whole, entirety.
• Verb (add): Sum up, add up, calculate.
• Verb (wreck): Destroy, wreck, demolish.

Phrasal Verbs / Related Verb Phrases

• Total up: To add numbers together to find a total.
  • Could you total up these columns of figures for me?

Related Idioms

• The sum total: The final and complete amount or result of something.
  • The sum total of his experience was just one summer job.

Adjective

1. complete in extent or degree and in every particular
   • a full game
   • a total eclipse
   • a total disaster
2. constituting the full quantity or extent; complete
   • an entire town devastated by an earthquake
   • gave full attention
   • a total failure

Noun

1. a quantity obtained by the addition of a group of numbers
2. the whole amount

Verb

1. damage beyond the point of repair
   • My son totaled our new car
   • the rock star totals his guitar at every concert
2. determine the sum of
   • Add all the people in this town to those of the neighboring town
3. add up in number or quantity
   • The bills amounted to $2,000
   • The bill came to $2,000