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

This could add up fast for Gen Zers already shelling out money for tuition. — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026

The Tread+ Vision also includes Sled Mode, meant to allow users to add up to 300 pounds of resistance for strength training as hybrid races like Hyrox become more popular. — Brandon Gomez, CNBC, 22 Sep. 2026

With that decided, the three set about creating other moments throughout the duplex, all adding up to separate yet interconnected spaces that called for use. — Matt Goulet, Architectural Digest, 22 Sep. 2026

Good Zero-Proof Drinks Require More Ingredients, More Time Not only is there more time and labor often involved with these very thoughtful beverages, but raw material costs add up. — Esther Tseng, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Sep. 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