Synonyms

toting

American

[toh-ting] / ˈtoʊ tɪŋ /

noun

Southern U.S.

the practice of taking home food from an employer by a person engaged in domestic service.
the food so taken.

Etymology

Origin of toting

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60; tote ¹ + -ing ¹

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.

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

They get all kinds, from well-to-do couples toting their toy pooches in the same designer bag as their medications, to criminally neglected unhoused people.

From Salon • Jan. 8, 2026

Her youngest son, 4-year-old Khian-khian, is too small to carry much, but insists on toting his best friend, a stuffed toy duck, Yaya.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 5, 2025

This is especially true now that everyone on a plane is toting multiple lithium ion–powered devices.

From Slate • Mar. 14, 2025

She darted to the nearest staircase, passing more wizened librarians toting armfuls of books, automats leading sullen trainees with detention slips, and people browsing.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023