toll
gb/tˈoʊl/ us/tˈoʊl/
A2
English
~ 2800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Fee for road or bridge use
Money you pay to use a road, bridge, or tunnel.
Usage pattern:
pay [a] toll
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'toll' with 'tax'; a tax is a general government charge, while a toll is specifically for using certain infrastructure.
Synonyms
fee (A general term for a payment for a service; less specific to roads.)
Antonyms
free passage (Travel without having to pay a fee.)
Collocations
pay a toll
|toll booth
|toll road
|toll bridge
|collect tolls
Themes
transportation
|business
|daily life
|travel
|finance
Examples
- We had to pay a toll before crossing the bridge.
- The new highway has several toll booths along its length.
- The toll for the tunnel is five dollars.
- Drivers can use an electronic pass to pay their tolls.
- They increased the toll last year to fund repairs.
Learner examples
- We paid a toll to cross the bridge.
- The road has a toll.
- You must pay the toll before you go in.
- The toll is two dollars.
- There is a toll on this road.
Noun
B1
quantity
2
Number of deaths or injuries
The number of people hurt or killed in an event.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'toll' here with 'tool'; they are unrelated words despite similar pronunciation.
Synonyms
casualties (Refers to people killed or injured, often in military or disaster contexts.)
Antonyms
survivors (People who lived through an event rather than being killed.)
Collocations
death toll
|casualty toll
|rising toll
Themes
news
|health
|safety
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The death toll from the earthquake has risen to 200.
- Officials fear the toll could climb as more bodies are found.
- The war has taken a heavy toll on civilians.
- The flood's toll was higher than expected.
- The accident added to the annual road toll.
Learner examples
- The death toll is now 50.
- The storm had a high toll.
- The toll from the fire was big.
- The war's toll is growing.
- The flood's toll was high.
Noun
B2
entity
3
Harmful effect over time
Slow harm or damage to someone or something over time.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'toll' here means 'cost in money'; in this sense it means harm or damage, not payment.
Synonyms
damage (General harm caused to something; not always gradual like 'toll'.)
Antonyms
benefit (Something that improves health or condition rather than harming it.)
Collocations
take a toll
|emotional toll
|physical toll
Themes
health
|emotions
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Years of stress took a toll on his health.
- The long hours are taking their toll on employees.
- Pollution has taken a heavy toll on marine life.
- Her illness took an emotional toll on the whole family.
- Traveling constantly can take its toll physically.
Learner examples
- Work takes a toll on my body.
- Stress takes a toll on health.
- Lack of sleep takes its toll.
- Hard work can take a big toll.
- Sad news took a toll on her.
Verb
B2
action
4
Ring bell slowly for death/time
To ring a big bell slowly, often for death or time passing.
Usage pattern:
toll [a bell]
Synonyms
chime (A general term for ringing bells; 'toll' implies slow and solemn ringing.)
Antonyms
remain silent (Not producing any sound; opposite of ringing.)
Collocations
toll the bell
|bells tolled
Themes
ceremony
|religion
|arts_entertainment
|time
Examples
- The church bells tolled at midnight.
- They tolled the bell in memory of the victims.
- A single bell tolled in the distance.
- Bells tolled to mark the end of the year.
- The funeral service began as the bells tolled.
Learner examples
- The bell tolled at noon.
- They tolled the bell for the dead man.
- A bell tolled far away.
- The bells tolled slowly.
- We heard the bell toll.
Grammar
Dictionary form
toll
IPA
GB/tˈoʊl/
US/tˈoʊl/
Syllables & stress
toll (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (toll)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: toll
- Plural: tolls
Verb
- Base: toll
- 3rd Person Singular: tolls
- Present Participle: tolling
- Past: tolled
Word family
Forms
tolls
noun
tolling
verb
tolled
verb
Related words
tollbooth
noun
tollgate
noun
tollway
noun
Negative and opposite forms
toll-free
adjective
Expressions
death toll
1/dˈɛθ tˈoʊl/
fixed phrase
Number of people killed in event/period
The number of people who have died in an event or during a certain time period.
Examples
- The death toll from the storm has reached 100.
- Authorities fear the death toll will rise.
take a toll (on)
1/tˈeɪk ə tˈoʊl ˈɔn/
idiom
Cause gradual harm or damage
To slowly cause harm or damage over time.
Examples
- Years of poor diet took a toll on his health.
- The constant travel is taking a toll on her family life.
toll bridge
1/tˈoʊl bɹˈɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
Bridge requiring payment to cross it
A bridge where you must pay money to cross it.
Examples
- We crossed the river via the toll bridge.
- The old toll bridge will be replaced next year.
toll road
1/tˈoʊl ɹˈoʊd/
fixed phrase
Road requiring payment to use it
A road where you must pay money to drive on it.
Examples
- We took the toll road to save time.
- The new toll road connects two major cities.