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

Through ConneXions, Hildebrandt offered individual therapy with couples and families, as well as group classes, couples workshops, week-long retreats and other online activities that all added up to thousands of dollars a month in income. —Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 4 Jan. 2026

Those differences quickly added up to a 121-114 victory in favor of the Bulls, who were without starting guards Josh Giddey and Coby White. —Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Jan. 2026

White House and farmers encouraged by China’s purchases These aid payments will add up to $11 billion for row crop farmers who raise corn, soybeans, wheat, sorghum and other crops. —Josh Funk, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026

But small, individual changes can still add up to a big impact—especially in communities. —Simmone Shah, Time, 1 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