tabulate

American  

[tab-yuh-leyt, tab-yuh-lit, -leyt] / ˈtæb yəˌleɪt, ˈtæb yə lɪt, -ˌleɪt /

verb (used with object)

tabulated, tabulating

1. to put or arrange in a tabular, systematic, or condensed form; formulate tabularly.

   Synonyms:

   classify, group, sort, rank, order

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verb (used without object)

tabulated, tabulating

1. to operate the tab key on a typewriter; to tab.

adjective

1. shaped like a table or tablet; tabular.

2. having transverse septae, as certain corals.

tabulate British  

verb

1. Also: tabularize.  to set out, arrange, or write in tabular form

2. to form or cut with a flat surface

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adjective

1. having a flat surface

2. (of certain corals) having transverse skeletal plates

Other Word Forms

• nontabulated adjective
• pretabulate verb (used with object)
• pretabulation noun
• retabulate verb (used with object)
• tabulable adjective
• tabulation noun
• untabulable adjective
• untabulated adjective

Etymology

Origin of tabulate

1590–1600; (adj.) < Late Latin tabulātus, past participle of tabulāre to fit with planks, floor; table, -ate ¹; (v.) < Latin tabul ( a ), for table + -ate ¹

Explanation

To tabulate information is to organize it into a table. If your friend borrows money from you every week, you might want to tabulate what she owes you. Tabulating is a way of processing information or data by putting it in a table. This doesn't mean the kind of table you eat off of, though. It refers to a table, or chart, with rows and columns. When tabulating, you might have to make calculations. Someone who enjoys tabulating financial information might make a good accountant.

Example Sentences

It is part of the Labor Department but operates independently, relying on nonpartisan staff economists who tabulate the numbers without input from the commissioner, the agency’s only political appointee.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

The former was the first census in which a computer was used to tabulate the data.

From BBC • Dec. 30, 2025

It has 20 scanners to tabulate ballots, all of which will be running on election night.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 21, 2024

The state party will tabulate results from all the precincts and release the statewide totals to the public.

From New York Times • Jan. 15, 2024

I was in the midst of writing a novel and he was calling me from it to tabulate the price of groceries.

From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright