add up

verb

added up; adding up; adds up

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

Synonyms

• amount (to)
• come (to)
• correspond (to)
• emulate
• equal

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

Those three things adding up result in William not being able to control his anger and acting in a way that's reprehensible. —Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 14 Dec. 2024

However, small, steady lifestyle changes add up in powerful ways. —Brandi Jones, Msn-Ed, Health, 14 Dec. 2024

In total, the settlement adds up to about $32.8 million. —Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press, 13 Dec. 2024

Ongoing expenses like insurance, maintenance and repairs can add up quickly. —Natalie Campisi, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2

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