Definition of add up
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
: to form an opinion of
- added him up at a glance
