WordGarden.iotoll
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /tˈəʊl/
US
- /ˈtoʊl/
Meanings
Noun
a fee charged for using a road, bridge, tunnel, or similar route
the number of deaths caused by a disaster, war, disease, or other event
a harmful physical or emotional cost caused over time
Verb
to ring slowly and repeatedly, especially of a bell
Beyond the definition
The word "toll" is not always about money. Sometimes it is a fee you pay to use a road or bridge. But very often, it means the cost of something in a wider sense: harm, strain, damage, or lives lost. A long trip can take a toll on your body. A stressful job can take a toll on your health. A storm can cause a terrible toll in damage and loss.
So you might pay a toll to cross a bridge, while a war takes a heavy toll in human lives. In both cases, the idea is the same: something has a price, and that price must be paid.
At its core, the word "toll" is about a price or cost. In the most direct sense, it means a fee paid for using a road, bridge, tunnel, or similar route. For example, you may have to pay a toll to drive on a highway or cross a bridge.
But the word is also used in a broader and more serious way. It often refers to the harm or strain caused by something over time. If someone says, "The long hours are taking a toll on her health," they mean the long hours are hurting her health. In the same way, grief, stress, war, illness, or hard work can all take a toll on a person.
"Toll" can also mean the total number of deaths, injuries, or losses caused by a disaster, accident, disease, or conflict. For example, "The death toll from the earthquake has risen" means the number of people who have died is increasing. You may also hear about the human toll, the financial toll, or the emotional toll of an event.
So whether it is a road fee, damage to health, or the losses caused by a tragedy, "toll" usually points to the idea of something being paid, suffered, or taken away.
Examples
- 1
Bridge fee
We had to pay a toll to cross the bridge.
- 2
Road travel
We took the toll road because it was much quicker than the old route.
- 3
Disaster deaths
The death toll from the earthquake kept rising through the night.
- 4
Health impact
Working two jobs for years took a toll on his health.
- Patterntake a toll on + person/thing
have a bad effect on it over time
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Farming impact
The long drought has taken a toll on local farmers.
- 6
Funeral bell
The church bell tolled as the funeral began.
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- tollnounverb
Forms
- tollspluralnounverb
- tolling-ing formverbnoun
- tolledpast tenseverbnoun