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:
She pulled out her phone to show me some of her work, which included garments she’d fashioned out of Trader Joe’s tote bags.
From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026
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
Sookie gutted ten fish for every mackerel I threw in the tote.
From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen
The Five-Pocket Tote has classic denim details such as belt loops, shank buttons and bar tack stitching.
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
Cuyana Classic Easy Tote $248 Lightweight and seriously soft, this classic leather tote bag combines luxury and practicality.
From The Verge ● Aug. 28, 2022
Stone’s opera résumé has leaned on 20th-century and contemporary works, such as Aribert Reimann’s “Lear,” Korngold’s “Die Tote Stadt” and, most recently, Berg’s “Wozzeck.”
From New York Times ● Apr. 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
If it wasn’t for us servants, the food wouldn’t get cooked, the water wouldn’t get toted, and the wood wouldn’t get chopped for the fires.
From "Blood on the River" by Elisa Carbone
People traveled to the farm in large groups, toting bags to collect the nectarines.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 3, 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
Fight the urge to pack more than you need, and make sure you aren’t toting anything unnecessary in your trunk.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 14, 2026
Percy was toting a steaming five-gallon plastic bucket that smelled horrible.
From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
