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

While those percentages add up to a total of 17 percentage points, a union spokesperson confirmed Friday afternoon that the overall increase totals 18% when annual compounding is accounted for. —Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026

Hiring is expected to accelerate into next year, with the goal of adding up to 275 bankers in 2027, Kevin Blair, the former Synovus CEO who is now the chief executive of the merged bank, said Thursday on an earnings call. —Amy Wenk, AJC.com, 23 Jan. 2026

Stay patient and practical to ensure your small adjustments add up in ways that support long-term security. —Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2026

Somehow, the week still quietly adds up to close to ten miles. —Jamilee Hoglind, Outside, 23 Jan. 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