Definition of add 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 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
