1 B1 neutral
To calculate the total of a set of numbers, scores, or items.
"At the end of the quiz, the host tallied up the scores and announced the winner."
separable
tally up
B1 neutral separable transitive
To calculate or count up the final total of something.
In plain English
To count everything up and find out what the total number is.
What does "tally up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 neutral
To match or correspond correctly; to be consistent with another figure or account.
"The cash in the till doesn't tally up with what the register says."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To count (tally) upward to a final sum.
Actually means
To count everything up and find out what the total number is.
Usage tip
Used in contexts ranging from scores and votes to costs and inventory. Often used at the end of a period or event. 'Tally up the scores' is a very natural collocation. Also used intransitively: 'the figures don't tally up' (meaning they don't match).
Words that pair with "tally up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
scores votes costs expenses results points
How to conjugate "tally up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
tally up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
tallies up
he/she/it
Past simple
tallied up
yesterday
Past participle
tallied up
have + pp
-ing form
tallying up
continuous
Hear "tally up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "tally up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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