1 B1 neutral
To add together a series of numbers or amounts to find the grand total.
"Can you total up all the receipts from the trip so we can submit the expenses?"
separable
total up
B1 neutral separable transitive
To calculate or add together a set of figures to find the overall sum.
In plain English
To add everything together to get the final number.
What does "total up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To amount to a particular total when all figures are combined.
"The renovation costs totalled up to far more than we had originally budgeted for."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To make a total by counting upward.
Actually means
To add everything together to get the final number.
Usage tip
Slightly more formal than 'add up'. Commonly used in business, finance, and administrative contexts. Also used informally when checking a bill or receipts. The object can be placed between 'total' and 'up' or after the full phrase.
Words that pair with "total up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
costs expenses figures score bill points
How to conjugate "total up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
total up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
totals up
he/she/it
Past simple
totaled up
yesterday
Past participle
totaled up
have + pp
-ing form
totaling up
continuous
Hear "total up" in the wild
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