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.
A £2,495 jewellery box and two tote bags in navy and burgundy were purchased from the same firm for a total of £1,116.
From BBC • May 25, 2026
I brought no food, no water, had no plans to take breaks and wore the tactical outfit of a tote bag, rain jacket and jeans.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026
Old Navy’s is somewhat tasteful and tongue-in-cheek, offering a cable-knit cerulean sweater with a charming red high-heel logo, tote bags and tops with a few of the movie’s key phrases printed on them.
From Salon • Apr. 20, 2026
At a high school in Nacka just outside Stockholm, final-year students are unpacking laptops from rucksacks and tote bags, alongside items they say they used less frequently a few years ago.
From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026
Then he took the green leather writing case from his tote bag and looked at it longingly.
From "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman
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.
