# tally

/ˈtæɫi/ (US) · /tˈæli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tally
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. to match or agree

verb · CEFR B2

to match or agree with another piece of information.

For teachers: to correspond or agree with another set of data or a previous account. Often used intransitively with the preposition 'with'.

- The numbers in his report don't tally with the bank statement.
- The witness's testimony failed to tally with the forensic evidence gathered at the scene, leading the investigators to suspect a false statement.

Usage: Commonly used with the preposition 'with'.

### 2. to count or calculate

verb · CEFR B2

to count a large number of things or calculate a total.

For teachers: to calculate a total or record a count of items. Transitive when used to describe the act of summing up.

- The staff spent the evening tallying the votes from the election.
- After the final shipment arrived, the warehouse manager spent hours tallying the inventory to ensure no crates were missing.

### 3. a record or score

noun · CEFR B2

a record of a score or the total number of something.

For teachers: a continuous record or count of a score, debt, or quantity.

- Keep a tally of how many people enter the building today.
- The referee kept a running tally of the fouls committed by each team throughout the championship match.

### 4. sailor's cap ribbon

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · British English

the ribbon on a sailor's hat that shows the name of their ship.

For teachers: a ribbon worn on a sailor's cap, typically inscribed with the name of the ship or naval division.

- The sailor straightened the tally on his cap before the inspection.
- Tradition dictates that the ship's name on the cap tally must be perfectly centered above the wearer's forehead.

## Examples

- Keep a tally of how many people enter the room.
- The referee kept a running tally of the fouls committed by each team throughout the match.
- As the election results trickled in from the rural districts, the official tally began to shift in favor of the underdog candidate, surprising most political analysts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.