total
word
/ˈtoʊtəɫ/
TOH-duhl
/tˈəʊtəl/
TOH-tuhl
Definition
Used to describe the whole amount of something, with nothing missing. It can also mean complete or absolute, depending on the context.
Usage & Nuances
Common as both an adjective and a noun: 'the total cost' and 'the total is $50'. In informal speech, 'a total mess' or 'total nonsense' means complete or absolute. Don't confuse it with 'totally', which is the adverb.
Spanish: total - completoPortuguese (BR): total - completoPortuguese (PT): total - completoChinese (Simplified): 总数 - 全部的 - 完全的Chinese (Traditional): 總數 - 全部的 - 完全的Hindi: कुल - पूरा - पूर्णArabic: إجمالي - كامل - تامBengali: মোট - সম্পূর্ণRussian: общий - полный - итогJapanese: 合計（ごうけい） - 総計（そうけい） - 完全なVietnamese: tổng - hoàn toànKorean: 총 - 완전한Turkish: toplam - tamUrdu: کل - مکملIndonesian: total - jumlah - keseluruhan
Example Sentences
The total cost is twenty dollars.
basic
We spent a total of three hours there.
basic
The room was in total darkness.
basic
After taxes and fees, the total came to almost $200.
natural
That movie was a total waste of time.
natural
I forgot my keys, my phone died, and then it started raining—total disaster.
natural