Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
dictionary thesaurus view recents

sum

noun (1)
Save Word
\ ˈsəm How to pronounce sum (audio) \

Definition of sum

 (Entry 1 of 3)

1 : an indefinite or specified amount of money
2 : the whole amount : aggregate
3 : the utmost degree : summit reached the sum of human happiness
4a : a summary of the chief points or thoughts : summation the sum of this criticism follows— C. W. Hendel
b : gist the sum and substance of an argument
5a(1) : the result of adding numbers the sum of 5 and 7 is 12
(2) : the limit of the sum of the first n terms of an infinite series as n increases indefinitely
b : numbers to be added broadly : a problem in arithmetic
c(1) : disjunction sense 2
(2) : union sense 2d
in sum
: in short : briefly

sum

verb
summed; summing

Definition of sum (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

1 : to calculate the sum of : total
2 : summarize

intransitive verb

: to reach a sum : amount

sum

noun (2)
\ ˈsəm How to pronounce sum (audio) \
plural sums

Definition of sum (Entry 3 of 3)

the basic monetary unit of Uzbekistan — see Money Table
Other Words from sum Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about sum

Keep scrolling for more

Other Words from sum

Noun (1)

summability \ ˌsə-​mə-​ˈbi-​lə-​tē How to pronounce summability (audio) \ noun
summable \ ˈsə-​mə-​bəl How to pronounce summable (audio) \ adjective

Examples of sum in a Sentence

Verb can sum figures in his head faster than I can punch them into a calculator

First Known Use of sum

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1993, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for sum

Noun (1)

Middle English summe, from Anglo-French sume, somme, from Latin summa, from feminine of summus highest; akin to Latin super over — more at over

Noun (2)

Uzbek so'm ruble

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about sum

Time Traveler for sum

Time Traveler

The first known use of sum was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Statistics for sum

Cite this Entry

“Sum.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sum. Accessed 19 January 2020.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for sum

sum

noun
\ ˈsəm How to pronounce sum (audio) \

Kids Definition of sum

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : the result obtained by adding numbers The sum of 4 and 5 is 9.
2 : a problem in arithmetic
3 : a quantity of money We donated a small sum.
4 : the whole amount Two trips is the sum of my travel experience.

sum

verb
summed; summing

Kids Definition of sum (Entry 2 of 2)

: to find the total number of by adding or counting
sum up
: to tell again in a few words : summarize

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on sum

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sum

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with sum

Spanish Central: Translation of sum

Nglish: Translation of sum for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of sum for Arabic Speakers

Comments on sum

What made you want to look up sum? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

intercalate

Listen to the pronounciation of intercalate

to insert between existing elements

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

The Eponym Quiz

  • rubens painting
  • Which is the best synonym of bowdlerize?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Syn City

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games