in toto
- idiom
- /ɪn ˈtoʊtoʊ/
- Formal
- When taken in toto, the evidence supports the need for immediate action.
Examples
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If they chose, states or local school districts could adopt the standards in toto and make them mandatory.
Academic text (1994) -
As the heading to this section of my article announces, I am unconvinced by Rahner's argument in toto, though I am willing to concede the validity of one of his two principal points.
Academic text (2006) -
Modern industry will take a while to wind down in toto.
Blog text (9) -
In toto, at government expense.
-
No human race is, in toto, more apelike than any other.
Academic text (1995) -
In toto, we would also expect this research to contribute to the cultural sustainability of agricultural communities.
Academic text (2008) -
Nationalizing health care insurance is not the same thing as nationalizing health care in toto.
Blog text (23) -
God made certain immutable laws (from our perspective) called, in toto, the Divine Law.
Blog text (31) -
Viewed in toto, the 1977 CAA did not provide effective solutions to prevent pollutant transport.
Academic text (1996) -
Considered in toto, these additions disrupt the aesthetic and compositional coherence of the original prints.
Academic text (2014)
Synonyms
Totally, in every way
Completely without leaving anything out
Completely with nothing left
Completely, with nothing missing
Including everything from the beginning to the end
Antonyms
How Complete
Surface Forms
Morphology
in + toto
If a learner recognizes 'toto' as meaning 'whole' then 'in' + 'toto' transparently yields 'in whole' → 'as a whole' / 'completely'. However, 'toto' is a non‑English (Latin) element and the phrase is a formal Latinism that does not follow common English compositional patterns, so many B1 learners—even knowing the parts—may not fully predict its use or register.
Etymology
The phrase in toto comes from Latin: in means 'in' and toto means 'whole'. So it originally described something 'in the whole', and today it still means 'completely' or 'as a whole'.