tote
verb (used with object)
to carry, as on one's back or in one's arms.
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tote
1 American
[toht]
/ toʊt /
verb (used with object)
toted,
toting
-
to carry, as on one's back or in one's arms.
to tote a bundle.
-
to carry on one's person.
to tote a gun.
-
to transport or convey, as on a vehicle or boat.
noun
-
the act or course of toting.
-
something that is toted.
tote
2
American
[toht]
/ toʊt /
verb (used with object)
toted,
toting
tote
3
American
[toht]
/ toʊt /
noun
Informal.
tote
1
British
/ təʊt /
verb
noun
-
the act of or an instance of toting
-
something toted
Tote
2
British
/ təʊt /
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of tote1
An Americanism dating back to 1670–80; origin uncertain
Origin of tote2
First recorded in 1885–90; probably verb use of tote, shortening of total
Origin of tote3
First recorded in 1890–95; by shortening
Explanation
A tote is a bag or basket used to carry things. Toting also refers to lugging things around. If you ever go to a conference, there's a good chance you might be given a tote, which is also known as a tote bag. Totes help people carry around conference materials, and they can be used to carry all sorts of things, including clothes for a trip or groceries at the store. Also, carrying things around is called toting. Usually, toting refers to carrying things around with difficulty. A giant box is hard to tote around.
Vocabulary lists containing tote
One Crazy Summer
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The Benefits of Being an Octopus
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Elijah of Buxton
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
They created T-shirts, ball caps and tote bags.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026
The British designer has doubled the size of leather and raffia tote bags.
From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026
Hundreds of people turned out to watch a Jacob Elordi lookalike contest which saw youngsters don their finest tote bags and slouchy sweatshirts.
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026
“Why are people interested in this basic tote bag? I think it’s because it just becomes a viral sensation online, and it becomes a real collectible thing, and it becomes a must-have item.”
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 19, 2026
Mom takes an envelope out of her stuffed-full tote bag.
From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy
For the Hoodie Tote, Krakoff lined it with neoprene to make it sturdier.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
Celebrate all things fashion as well as New York designer Marc Jacobs’ 40th anniversary with this cute Tote Bag Necklace.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 14, 2024
Since the 1970s, Korngold has been steadily rising from the dead city of forgotten composers, to borrow the title of “Die Tote Stadt,” his great operatic hit from 1920.
From New York Times ● Nov. 10, 2022
Bean Boat and Tote In a post-plastic landscape, a solid tote bag is practically a necessity.
From The Verge ● Jul. 22, 2022
Tote a little corn bread for ’em too.
From "Copper Sun" by Sharon M. Draper
Dancing to drums in downtown Yangon, the crowd of nationalist activists and saffron-robed monks twirled miniature national flags and toted banners denying accusations of ethnic cleansing being levelled at The Hague.
From Barron's ● Jan. 27, 2026
During a family trip to Lake Tahoe, he toted two bags of notes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 15, 2026
He toted Walter around the whole day, and at the end of their visit, I told him he could take Walter home if he wanted to.
From Slate ● Oct. 1, 2025
Queen Elizabeth II, who was in residence, was said to have looked at the guns being toted by these unexpected arrivals.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2025
When the tall, narrow women dressed in their sarongs returned serenely from the fields, they toted it in huge parcels impossibly balanced on their heads: manioc-root bundles the size of crumpled horses.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
Since many high school-age players can’t drive, a parent has to accept the responsibility of toting them back and forth to team activities.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
And at the end of it all, Colbert flew off in Santa’s sleigh toting his prized Captain America shield, with unicorn Abraham Lincoln and “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek, the man with all the answers.
From Salon ● May 21, 2026
So if you’re toting around two kids and want a fun-filled day that costs less than $200, but you hate walking around museums, then say exactly that.
From MarketWatch ● May 19, 2026
Jerry Schulz wouldn’t join any protest—he’s no gnomie—but that didn’t stop him from toting a pair of gnomes around the course on Wednesday as he left the par-3 tournament.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 10, 2026
Hannah felt as if he were looking deep inside her, toting up her abilities, guessing at her chances.
From "The Devil's Arithmetic" by Jane Yolen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
