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in toto

in toto

2 8.4
Completely with nothing left out
  • idiom
  • /ɪn ˈtoʊtoʊ/
  • Formal
translation icon : en su totalidad
  • When taken in toto, the evidence supports the need for immediate action.

Examples

  • 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

completely
vsin toto
1.0

Totally, in every way

focuses on the whole together rather than separate parts
entirely
vsin toto
2.2

Completely without leaving anything out

describes the whole as a single unit rather than each part
altogether
vsin toto
149 3.3

Completely with nothing left

emphasizes entirety as a single unit rather than general totality
in full
vsin toto
131 1.7

Completely, with nothing missing

views everything as a single whole rather than amount or degree
from soup to nuts
vsin toto
  • Informal
1 7.4

Including everything from the beginning to the end

describes the whole at once rather than a sequence from start to finish

Antonyms

374 2.2

To some degree but not completely

117 3.4

Not finished because some parts or steps are missing

How Complete

in toto
  • Formal
2 8.4
mostly
1.0
in part
374 2.2

Surface Forms

in toto positive

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'.