Total Meaning
Total Definition & Usage
Used to describe something that is whole, complete, or unbroken.
Examples
- "The total amount of the bill came to $150."
- "After a total review of the case, the decision was made."
- "The total destruction of the building was evident after the fire."
- "The total time required for the journey was approximately five hours."
- "We spent the total day exploring the new city."
The whole or complete amount of something, especially as calculated by adding up all parts.
Examples
- "The total of the receipts was much higher than expected."
- "You need to pay the total amount before you can leave the store."
- "The total for all the services rendered was calculated to be $1,000."
- "The total of our efforts will be visible in the results next week."
- "She was shocked by the total when she added up her expenses."
To calculate or find the total of something by adding up its parts.
Examples
- "I will total the expenses and let you know how much we owe."
- "Can you total all the bills for the week?"
- "The accountant is working to total the financial figures for the year."
- "We need to total the points scored by each player at the end of the game."
- "She quickly totaled the receipts to ensure everything was correct."
Cultural Context
The word 'total' has Latin roots, coming from 'totalis', meaning 'whole' or 'complete'. It is widely used in both everyday and professional language to indicate completeness or the sum of various components.
The Total Breakdown
Story
The Total Breakdown
One warm spring afternoon, James sat at his kitchen table, staring at the pile of receipts in front of him. It was tax season, and he needed to total his expenses for the year. The receipts were scattered across the table, some coffee-stained, others scribbled with quick notes he had made throughout the year. He sighed and began the tedious task of adding up the figures. Each receipt was a small piece of his year: the lunches with clients, the office supplies, the unexpected car repair. As he tallied the totals in his mind, he couldn't help but feel the weight of it all—how his small expenses had added up to a significant sum. His wife, Sarah, entered the room, carrying a cup of tea. 'How’s it going?' she asked. 'Almost there,' James replied, as he carefully totaled the last few receipts. When he finished, he stared at the final number. It was much higher than he had expected. The total had seemed manageable when he glanced at each receipt, but seeing it all together made him realize how easily small things could accumulate over time. 'This is the total,' James said, holding up the final number for Sarah to see. 'Looks like we’ll be paying a bit more than I thought.' But the day wasn’t all about numbers. Later, they drove out to the countryside to take a break from the financial stress. The road ahead was clear and long. 'The total drive time is only an hour and a half,' Sarah remarked, glancing at the GPS. 'That sounds good,' James replied, his mind still lingering on the numbers. 'I just need to clear my head. A total reset.' As they drove, the landscape unfolded around them—vast fields, rolling hills, and bright wildflowers. James realized that sometimes the total picture was more than just the sum of its parts. A year’s worth of receipts, a long road trip, even a marriage—it wasn’t just about the numbers. It was the whole journey. And that was something worth appreciating. By the time they reached their destination, James had already started to let go of the stress. As Sarah pulled the car over to the side of the road, he looked out at the horizon and smiled. 'Well, this was a total win,' he said, feeling lighter and more at peace.
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