tote

1 of 4

verb (1)

toted; toting

transitive verb

1
: to carry by hand : bear on the person : lug, pack
2
toter noun

tote

2 of 4

noun (1)

1
2

tote

3 of 4

verb (2)

toted; toting

transitive verb

: add, total
usually used with up
toted up his accomplishmentsG. P. Morrill

tote

4 of 4

noun (2)

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
Attendees were toting glasses of wine, grasping champagne stems. Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025 Emma Stone filled her custom Louis Vuitton gown pockets with popcorn and toted a cinema snack box in lieu of a bag, while Miley Cyrus donned two Roberto Cavalli looks—one recent runway, one archival—for a gothic showgirl performance. Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 17 Feb. 2025
Noun
The No Hard Feelings actress, 34, wore a scarf and navy trench coat over jeans, and accessorized with a leopard print tote. Toria Sheffield, People.com, 16 Mar. 2025 Suede Tote Bag This suede tote is the ultimate companion for a day spent wandering bookstores or sitting in a café, scribbling in a notebook. Abby Kass, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2025 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)

1888, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1891, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tote was in 1677

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tote.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tote. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

tote

verb
ˈtōt
toted; toting
: to carry by hand
toter noun

More from Merriam-Webster on tote

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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