totality

noun

tō-ˈta-lə-tē How to pronounce totality (audio)
Definition of totalitynext
as in total
a complete amount of something the totality of the stars in the universe can only be loosely guessed at

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of totality For many skywatchers, the difference between 96% and 100% will be surprisingly subtle — the complete opposite to a total solar eclipse, where a 99% eclipse bears no resemblance whatsoever to totality. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026 As the media huddled around his locker in Wrigley Field’s underground home clubhouse, Crow-Armstrong raised his eyes, chuckled and shook his head at the totality of the scene. — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026 This land of wide open spaces, ancient churches and castles, and vast sunflower fields, all baking under the blinding August Sun, seemed like the perfect location to enter the path of totality. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 17 Aug. 2026 But at no point will there be lunar totality—when the entire lunar surface falls under Earth’s shadow. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for totality
Recent Examples of Synonyms for totality
  1. total
  2. sum
  3. whole
Noun
  • Forecasters said Edouard is expected to produce rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches, with maximum totals up to 9 inches, for parts of the Upper Texas coast inland through east-central Texas.
    — Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
  • By the end of the night, Chicago had nine in total as part of a 17-3 rout that cemented August 2026 as one for the record books for the North Siders.
    — Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of total
Noun
  • Billionaires can volunteer large sums of cash without being forced to do so.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The law helps level the playing field somewhat by letting candidates make their cases to voters who watch broadcast TV without needing to raise exorbitant sums of money.
    — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of sum
Noun
  • Was Zeuxis’s imitation in this instance a case of gathering (breaking up the models, then collecting and aggregating pieces) or a case of transformation (merging and blending some parts or traits into a smooth and seamless new whole)?
    — Mario Carpo, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Kennedy hadn’t thought of the three novels as part of a unified whole.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of whole

Browse Nearby Words

totalities
totality
totalize
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Totality.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/totality. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on totality

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about totality

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of matriculate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All