1
: an indefinite or specified amount of money
2
: the whole amount : aggregate
3
: the utmost degree : summit
reached the sum of human happiness
4
5
a(1)
: the result of adding numbers
the sum of 5 and 7 is 12
(2)
: the limit of the sum of the first n terms of an infinite series as n increases indefinitely
b
: numbers to be added
broadly
: a problem in arithmetic
c(1)
(2)
Examples of sum in a Sentence
Noun (1)
the sum of human knowledge on that subject
the district attorney delivered a sum of the evidence against the accused that was simply staggering
he declared that he had reached the sum of joy when his newborn daughter was laid in his arms
the sum of the issue is: who will pay for this?
Verb
can sum figures in his head faster than I can punch them into a calculator
Recent Examples on the Web
Russell Leung, CNBC, 1 Mar. 2025
Oliver Wainwright, in The Guardian, sums it up well.
—Matt Shaw, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025
Several of the reallocations were voted on at the county’s Executive Committee meeting last week and were then passed unanimously during Tuesday’s County Board meeting, but three of the larger sums of money were passed Tuesday in split votes.
—Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sum
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show current usage.
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Verb
For luxury tax purposes, a team’s payroll is calculated by summing the average annual values of each contract, according to MLB’s current collective bargaining agreement.
—Russell Leung, CNBC, 1 Mar. 2025
Oliver Wainwright, in The Guardian, sums it up well.
—Matt Shaw, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
Noun
There was a reluctance to pay such a sum for someone whose talent was clear, but who had yet to deliver consistently in an elite league.
—Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025
Several of the reallocations were voted on at the county’s Executive Committee meeting last week and were then passed unanimously during Tuesday’s County Board meeting, but three of the larger sums of money were passed Tuesday in split votes.
—Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sum
Cite this Entry
“Sum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sum. Accessed 18 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sum
1 of 2 noun1
: an indefinite or specified amount of money
2
: the whole amount
the sum of your experience
3
a
: a summary of the chief points or thoughts
b
: the main point
the sum and substance of an argument
4
a
: the result of adding numbers
the sum of 5 and 7 is 12
b
: a problem in arithmetic
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