add up

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 tothe 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 More Example Sentences Learn More about add up

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of add up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Stories from a companion of the victim that didn’t add up. — Washington Post, "Unique Harris disappearance: Man charged with murder a decade after woman goes missing," 21 Dec. 2020 On their show Bravo's Chat Room, Porsha and Gizelle talked about their time at the wedding, and their words didn't necessarily add up with what is shown in the photos. — Lia Beck, refinery29.com, "What We Know About Cynthia Bailey’s Pandemic Wedding — & How Much RHOA Will Show," 6 Dec. 2020 Jenny also notices that too many details from Kelly’s past don’t add up in this new episode. — Ed Stockly, Los Angeles Times, "What’s on TV Wednesday: ‘For Life’ on ABC; NBA Draft on ESPN," 17 Nov. 2020 Speaking again about scheduling, CBS apparently thought this show worked best as a late-spring addition to its schedule but found that the numbers did not add up. — Rich Heldenfels, Star Tribune, "Pop Culture Q&A: Why 'Man With a Plan' was canceled," 26 Oct. 2020 Gottesman argued that Wolf’s narrative of dealing in good faith doesn’t add up. — Christen Smith, Washington Examiner, "Pennsylvania governor, lawmakers trade blame on stalled election reform," 20 Oct. 2020 John Horvick, of DHM Research in Portland, said the numbers don’t add up for Skarlatos. — oregonlive, "28-year-old political novice Skarlatos closes in on incumbent DeFazio in 4th district Congressional race.," 18 Oct. 2020 Polls after the election found voters recognized the taxing and spending numbers didn’t add up, and disliked Mr. Corbyn for trying to hoodwink them. — Joseph C. Sternberg, WSJ, "If You Lose an Election, You Probably Deserve It," 24 Sep. 2020 Hindenburg has a track record of uncovering investment funds and companies whose numbers don’t add up. — New York Times, "Head of Nikola, a G.M. Electric Truck Partner, Quits Amid Fraud Claims," 21 Sep. 2020

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.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about add up

Dictionary Entries near add up

adductor impression

Statistics for add up

Last Updated

8 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Add up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/add%20up. Accessed 19 Jan. 2021.

WORD OF THE DAY

conjecture

Listen to the pronunciation of conjecture

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Words of Snow and Ice Quiz

Which of the following refers to thin, bending ice, or to the act of running over such ice?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

Anagram puzzles meet word search.