add up

verb

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added up; adding up; adds up

Definition of add up

intransitive verb

1a : 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

2a : 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

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Examples of add up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Small changes might be able to add up to enough to break even. — Jessica Roy, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2022 But the evidence of Laura having some history with S.H.I.E.L.D. continues add up. — Andrea Towers, EW.com, 8 Dec. 2021 Jim Axelrod: Well, now, that doesn't seem to add up. — Jim Axelrod, CBS News, 4 Dec. 2021 Finally, draw lines from each parity node to the digit nodes that are supposed to add up to form its parity value. — Quanta Magazine, 24 Nov. 2021 Brandon’s death was ultimately ruled an accidental drowning by authorities, but his family and friends say some things don’t add up, leaving them with many unanswered questions. — Andrea Cavallier, NBC News, 12 Dec. 2021 The economics of child care do not add up, said Barbara Jo Warner, executive director of the Capitol Child Development Center. — Daniela Altimari, courant.com, 15 Oct. 2021 Investigators and doctors said Mitchell’s story about putting the child in a tub full of water to calm her temper tantrum didn’t add up. — Tiffini Theisen, orlandosentinel.com, 27 Aug. 2021 Gutierrez, as well as several relatives of other Colombians who traveled to Haiti, told CNN the accusations against the men do not add up. — Stefano Pozzebon, CNN, 14 July 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'add up.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.