tote

1 of 4

verb (1)

ˈtōt How to pronounce tote (audio)
toted; toting
Synonyms of tote

transitive verb

1
: to carry by hand : bear on the person : lug, pack
2
: haul, convey
toter
ˈtō-tər How to pronounce tote (audio)
noun

tote

2 of 4

noun (1)

1
: tote bag
2
: burden, load

tote

3 of 4

verb (2)

toted; toting

transitive verb

: add, total
—usually used with up
… toted up his accomplishments …—G. P. Morrill

tote

4 of 4

noun (2)

: pari-mutuel sense 2

Synonyms of tote

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Verb (1)

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of tote in a Sentence

Verb (1) toted his dog from the muddy backyard to the bathtub for a thorough washing
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Clooney accessorized her look with a different neutral color, toting a gray suede bag from the label. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026 Three weeks of toting around a bag on one shoulder or by the handles just isn’t sustainable. — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 29 Aug. 2026
Noun
At his death, Snellings’ belongings were limited to a bicycle and a couple of totes. — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026 Her top picks include a cropped cardigan, soft leather loafers, and a designer-quality tote. — Ali Faccenda, InStyle, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tote

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

probably from an English-based creole; akin to Gullah & Krio tot to carry, of Bantu origin; akin to Kikongo -tota to pick up, Kimbundu -tuta to carry

Verb (2)

English dialect tote, noun, total

Noun (2)

short for totalizator

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1677, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

circa 1772, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb (2)

1830, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tote was in 1677

Phrases Containing tote

Rhymes for tote

See All Rhymes for tote

Browse Nearby Words

to taste
tote
tote bag
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tote.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tote. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tote

verb
ˈtōt
toted; toting
: to carry by hand
toter noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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