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 of add up

• come (to)
• correspond (to)
• amount (to)

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

After all, property taxes, homeowners insurance, maintenance costs and mortgage payments can add up quickly, especially if Social Security represents a large share of monthly income. —Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 16 June 2026

These movies now add up to a canon greater than the sum of their boisterously funny, deliriously inventive parts. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 16 June 2026

While a dollar or two may not seem dramatic at first glance, these kinds of reductions can add up quickly for Costco members who regularly purchase staple items, and that is a win worth celebrating. —Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 15 June 2026

With credit card APRs averaging over 20%, the savings can quickly add up. —Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 15 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2

Rhymes for add up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup

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