totaled or totalled; totaling or totalling
Examples of total in a Sentence
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
Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 6 June 2025
According to Gartner’s 2024 CMO Spend Survey, the average marketing budget across industries is 7.7% of total company revenue, a decrease from 9.1% in 2023.
—Stephen Spratley, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
Rachel McRady, People.com, 6 June 2025
The April count was revised lower by 30,000, while March's total came down by 65,000 to 120,000.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 6 June 2025
Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
As of October 2024, the SBA provided 11.5 million loans totaling $792.6 billion, according to the latest data from the federal Pandemic Oversight website.
More on the COVID EIDL program
During the pandemic, the SBA expanded its EIDL program to help with critical financial relief.
—Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 22 May 2025
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
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Adjective
Only three teams — the Athletics, Orioles and Blue Jays have allowed more than the Dodgers’ 83 total dingers.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 6 June 2025
According to Gartner’s 2024 CMO Spend Survey, the average marketing budget across industries is 7.7% of total company revenue, a decrease from 9.1% in 2023.
—Stephen Spratley, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
Noun
His name was mentioned in flight logs released earlier this year by Attorney General Pam Bondi a total of seven times.
—Rachel McRady, People.com, 6 June 2025
The April count was revised lower by 30,000, while March's total came down by 65,000 to 120,000.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 6 June 2025
Verb
Graduate enrollment now totals slightly more than 3.1 million, 7.2% higher than in 2020.
—Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
As of October 2024, the SBA provided 11.5 million loans totaling $792.6 billion, according to the latest data from the federal Pandemic Oversight website.
More on the COVID EIDL program
During the pandemic, the SBA expanded its EIDL program to help with critical financial relief.
—Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 22 May 2025
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
Cite this Entry
“Total.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/total. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
total
1 of 3 adjective
to·tal
ˈtōt-ᵊl 
1
: of or relating to the whole of something
a total eclipse of the sun
2
: making up the whole
the total amount
3
: being such to the fullest degree
total ruin
4
: making use of every means to do something
total war
total
2 of 3 noun1
: a product of addition : sum
2
: an entire amount
total
3 of 3 verb
totaled or totalled; totaling or totalling
1
2
: to amount to
donations totaled $120
3
: to make a total wreck of
totaled the car
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