Tally Definition and Meaning
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Published on October 10, 2025
Tally refers to a count or record of a quantity, such as points, votes, or items. e.g., The final tally showed that the home team won by a large margin.
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Tally Definitions
To count or add up numbers or items.
She used a clicker to tally the number of attendees.
A record of amounts or numbers.
The tally at the end of the day showed record sales.
A system of counting using marks or strokes.
Prisoners often keep a tally of days with marks on the wall.
Marking or scoring for reference or record.
The researcher tallied the responses for analysis.
The act of calculating a total.
Tallying the votes took longer than expected.
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A physical object used as a counting aid.
Before technology, a tally stick was used for record-keeping.
A reckoning, score, or amount
What was the final tally of votes?.
A record of a reckoning, score, or amount
She keeps a tally of the miles she runs each week.
The act of scoring a point or goal in a game or contest
Took the lead on his tally in the second half.
A stick on which notches are made to keep a count or score.
A stick on which notches were formerly made to keep a record of amounts paid or owed.
A mark used in recording a number of acts or objects, most often in series of five, consisting of four vertical lines canceled diagonally or horizontally by a fifth line.
A label, ticket, or piece of metal or wood used for identification or classification, especially in gardens and greenhouses.
(Archaic) Something that is very similar or corresponds to something else; a double or counterpart.
To reckon or count. Often used with up
Tallied up the bill.
To make a record of (an amount, for example).
To score (a point or goal) in a game or contest.
To label, as with a ticket, for identification or classification.
To be alike; correspond or agree
The report tallies with your description of the accident.
To keep a record, as of a score in a game.
To score a point or goal in a game or contest.
Target sighted.
(Air Traffic Control): Speedbird 123, New York, traffic at two o’clock, seven miles, a Boeing 737, west-bound, at 4000 feet.
(Pilot): New York, Speedbird 123, tally.
(by extension) One of two books, sheets of paper, etc., on which corresponding accounts were kept.
(by extension) Any account or score kept by notches or marks, whether on wood or paper, or in a book, especially one kept in duplicate.
One thing made to suit another; a match; a mate.
A notch, mark, or score made on or in a tally; as, to make or earn a score or tally in a game.
A tally shop.
A ribbon on a sailor's cap bearing the name of the ship or the (part of) the navy to which they belong.
A state of cohabitation, living with another individual in an intimate relationship outside of marriage.
(transitive) To count something.
(transitive) To mathematically calculate a numeric result.
(transitive) To record something by making marks.
(transitive) To make things correspond or agree with each other.
(intransitive) To keep score.
(intransitive) To correspond or agree.
(nautical) To check off, as parcels of freight going inboard or outboard.
(obsolete) In a tall way; stoutly; with spirit.
Originally, a piece of wood on which notches or scores were cut, as the marks of number; later, one of two books, sheets of paper, etc., on which corresponding accounts were kept.
Hence, any account or score kept by notches or marks, whether on wood or paper, or in a book; especially, one kept in duplicate.
One thing made to suit another; a match; a mate.
They were framed the tallies for each other.
A notch, mark, or score made on or in a tally; as, to make or earn a tally in a game.
A tally shop. See Tally shop, below.
To score with correspondent notches; hence, to make to correspond; to cause to fit or suit.
They are not so well tallied to the present juncture.
To check off, as parcels of freight going inboard or outboard.
To be fitted; to suit; to correspond; to match.
I found pieces of tiles that exactly tallied with the channel.
Your idea . . . tallies exactly with mine.
To make a tally; to score; as, to tally in a game.
Stoutly; with spirit.
A score in baseball made by a runner touching all four bases safely;
The Yankees scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th
Their first tally came in the 3rd inning
A bill for an amount due
The act of counting;
The counting continued for several hours
Be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics;
The two stories don't agree in many details
The handwriting checks with the signature on the check
The suspect's fingerprints don't match those on the gun
Gain points in a game;
The home team scored many times
He hit a home run
He hit .300 in the past season
Keep score, as in games
Determine the sum of;
Add all the people in this town to those of the neighboring town
To match or agree with something else.
The witness's account didn't tally with the evidence.
To keep a continuous count or record.
He tallied his daily expenses meticulously.
To make a note of something in order to keep a record.
She tallied each bird sighting in her journal.
The result or sum total of a count.
The final tally revealed an unexpected winner.
Tally Snonyms
Sum
The result of adding numbers or quantities together.
The sum of their efforts was a successful event.
Score
The number of points, goals, runs, etc., made by a player or team in a game.
The final score showed a clear victory.
Calculation
The process of using mathematics to find an answer.
The calculation of the trajectory was precise.
Count
The act of determining the total number of something.
The count of attendees was surprisingly high.
Record
A written or printed account kept for evidence or reference.
The meeting's record was meticulously noted for future reference.
Tabulation
The act of counting and recording in an orderly manner.
The election results required careful tabulation.
Total
The sum of numbers or quantities.
The total of all invoices this month is staggering.
Tallying
The process of counting or adding up.
Tallying the survey results took hours.
Enumeration
The action of mentioning a number of things one by one.
The enumeration of the facts was crucial for the case.
Inventory
A complete list of items such as property, goods in stock, or the contents of a building.
The annual inventory of the store was a large undertaking.
Tally Idioms & Phrases
Keep tally
To keep a continuous count or record.
She kept tally of all her expenses during the trip.
By a long tally
By a large amount or margin.
They won the game by a long tally.
Tally up
To add up numbers to reach a total.
He tallied up the scores and announced the winner.
Off the tally
Not included in the total count.
The late votes were off the tally.
Tally sheet
A paper or digital record where totals are kept.
The accountant reviewed the tally sheet for discrepancies.
Tally with
To agree or correspond with something.
The suspect's story didn't tally with the facts.
On the tally
Being part of the count or consideration.
Every opinion is on the tally for our final decision.
Make one's tally
To achieve or reach a specific count.
She made her tally of books read this year.
Tally stick
A piece of wood or bone used historically for counting.
Ancient cultures used tally sticks to record transactions.
Strike a tally
To make a mark or record for counting.
He struck a tally for every lap completed.
Tally Example Sentences
He kept a tally of all the birds he spotted during the hike.
They used an app to tally their daily steps and exercise.
They struggled to tally the fast-moving votes during the election.
The inventory tally showed they were short on several items.
She made a tally mark for each day she completed her challenge.
Each correct answer added to his tally in the quiz.
Her journal included a tally of all the books she read this year.
The final tally of votes was announced late into the night.
The charity event's success was beyond the expected tally.
His daily tally of water intake helped him stay hydrated.
The game ended with a tally that surprised many spectators.
Common Curiosities
How is tally used in a sentence?
Tally is used to refer to a count or record of quantities. e.g., Please tally the number of guests attending.
How many syllables are in tally?
Tally has two syllables.
What is the root word of tally?
The root word of tally is the Latin "talea," meaning "a cutting, stick, or rod."
What is a stressed syllable in tally?
The stressed syllable in tally is the first one: TAL-ly.
How do we divide tally into syllables?
Tally is divided into syllables as tal-ly.
What is the verb form of tally?
The verb form of tally is "to tally."
Why is it called tally?
"Tally" comes from the Latin word "talea," meaning "a cutting, stick, or rod," reflecting its historical use in counting by marks on a stick.
What is the singular form of tally?
The singular form is "tally."
What is the plural form of tally?
The plural form is "tallies."
What is the opposite of tally?
The opposite of tally (as a verb) could be "estimate" or "guess," and as a noun, it could be "discrepancy" or "mismatch."
Is tally an adverb?
No, tally is not an adverb.
Is tally a negative or positive word?
Tally is neutral; it does not inherently carry a positive or negative connotation.
Is the word tally Gerund?
When used as a verb, "tallying" would be the gerund form.
What is the pronunciation of tally?
Tally is pronounced as \ˈta-lē.
Is the word “tally” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
In a sentence, "tally" can serve as a direct object, e.g., "We will tally the votes."
What is another term for tally?
Another term for tally is "count."
Is tally a noun or adjective?
Tally is primarily a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What part of speech is tally?
Tally can be both a noun (as in a record or total count) and a verb (as in the act of counting or recording).
Is tally an abstract noun?
As a noun, tally refers to a concept or count, making it somewhat abstract, though it represents concrete numbers or results.
Is tally a collective noun?
No, tally is not typically used as a collective noun.
Is the word tally imperative?
The word tally can be used in the imperative mood as a command or request to count or record something.
Which preposition is used with tally?
Prepositions such as "of," "in," and "with" can be used with tally, e.g., "tally of items," "in the tally," "tally with the records."
Is tally a vowel or consonant?
The word tally starts with a consonant sound.
Is tally a countable noun?
Yes, tally is a countable noun when referring to specific counts or records.
Is the tally term a metaphor?
Tally can be used metaphorically to represent or imply a count or record of abstract concepts.
Which determiner is used with tally?
Determiners such as "the," "a," or "your" can be used with tally, depending on the context.
Which vowel is used before tally?
The use of a vowel or consonant before "tally" depends on the preceding word; it does not dictate a specific vowel use.
Which conjunction is used with tally?
Conjunctions like "and" or "but" can be used with tally to connect ideas or clauses.
Which article is used with tally?
Both "the" (definite) and "a" (indefinite) articles can be used with tally, depending on whether the tally is specific or general.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
