Used to introduce the complete or combined amount of something, adding all parts together.
“A total of 120 parking spaces are available at the community center.”
“The course requires a total of 40 hours of in-class instruction.”
This phrase often appears before a final combined number in a chart, such as total cost, total spaces, or total hours. When a question asks about an overall figure, check whether the diagram gives a total that already includes several smaller amounts. Do not mistake a subtotal in one row for the total of the whole category.
Synonyms: altogether, in total, combined