add up

verb

added up; adding up; adds up
Synonyms of add upnext

intransitive verb

1
a
: to come to the expected total
the bill doesn't add up
b
: to form an intelligible pattern : make sense
her story just doesn't add up
2
a
: amount sense 1b
used with to
the play adds up to a lot of laughs
b
: to amount to a lot
just a little each time, but it all adds up

transitive verb

: to form an opinion of
added him up at a glance

Examples of add up in a Sentence

whether we take the 4:00 train or the 4:15 bus, it adds up to the same thing: they both get us back too late even if we pool all our money, it won't add up to enough to rent a beach house for a week
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
At roughly $30 per pouch, the cost can quickly add up — particularly for larger districts serving thousands of students. Wakisha Bailey, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026 Between showers, gifts, flights, and dresses, the costs can easily add up. Shelby Wax, Vogue, 24 Aug. 2026 But even adding up the wealth of the world’s richest people gets only a fraction of the way to the value of the national debt. John Towfighi, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026 The efforts add up to confidence in Colorado’s upcoming general election, officials said. Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for add up

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of add up was in 1850

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Add up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/add%20up. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

Kids Definition

add up

verb
1
a
: to come to a total and especially the expected total
b
: to make sense
her story just doesn't add up
2
: to amount to a lot
just a little each time, but it all adds up
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster