WordGarden.iotote
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /tˈəʊt/
US
- /ˈtoʊt/
Meanings
Noun
a large open bag used to carry everyday items
Verb
to carry or haul something from place to place
Beyond the definition
To tote something means to carry it, often something fairly heavy, bulky, or useful for a task. Imagine a kid totin' a heavy stack of library books; they're lugging them along. Beyond the action, the word also names a large, simple bag used for carrying things. You might use a reusable grocery tote or a canvas tote bag for your daily essentials. The word often sounds more practical and casual than just saying "carry."
The verb "tote" is especially common in American English and gives a sentence a plain, everyday feel. It brings to mind scenes like totin' tools to a job site or totin' picnic supplies to the park. Because it usually suggests bulk or usefulness, you would not often tote a single diamond; you would simply carry it.
The word "tote" has a practical history, likely stemming from West African roots and becoming widely used in the American South. Originally, it described the act of carrying something, often with effort and often by hand. Think of early settlers totin' water buckets from a well or farmers totin' heavy sacks of crops from the field. That background helps explain why the word still has a hardworking, useful feel.
Today, "tote" is still used for informal, everyday carrying. You might tote groceries from the car into the house, tote a cooler to the beach, or even figuratively tote your worries around with you. It sounds less formal and more hands-on than a word like "transport." Very often, it suggests that the things being carried are bulky, useful, or part of a load.
In modern times, "tote" is also a very common noun, referring to a large, open bag with two handles. These bags are often made of durable materials like canvas, cotton, or nylon and are widely used for shopping, books, work items, or daily errands. Whether you are talking about carrying gear by hand or about the bag itself, "tote" keeps its strong link to practical, everyday use.
Examples
- 1
Canvas bag
She pulled a notebook out of her canvas tote.
- 2
Grocery shopping
I keep a fold-up tote in my backpack for grocery runs.
- 3
Gift shop
The gift shop sells colorful totes with rope handles.
- 4
Carrying gear
He showed up toting a cooler and two camp chairs.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Carrying around
I got tired of toting around my laptop all weekend.
- Patterntote around + object
carry it with you from place to place
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- toteverbnoun
Forms
- totesverbnoun
- toting-ing formverbnoun
- totedpast tenseverbnoun