sum-up

1 of 2

noun

ˈsəm-ˌəp 

: summary

sum up

2 of 2

verb

summed up; summing up; sums up

transitive verb

1

: to be the sum of : bring to a total

10 victories summed up his record

2

a

: to present or show succinctly : summarize

sum up the evidence presented

b

: to assess and then describe briefly : size up

intransitive verb

: to present a summary or recapitulation

Synonyms

Noun

• abstract
• breviary
• brief
• capsule
• conspectus
• digest
• encapsulation
• epitome
• inventory
• outline
• précis
• recap
• recapitulation
• résumé
• resume
• resumé
• roundup
• run-through
• rundown
• sum
• summa
• summarization
• summary
• summing-up
• synopsis
• wrap-up

Verb

• abstract
• boil down
• brief
• digest
• encapsulate
• epitomize
• outline
• recap
• recapitulate
• reprise
• summarize
• synopsize
• wrap up

Examples of sum-up in a Sentence

Verb

in summing up the evidence against the defendant, the district attorney presented fact after damning fact

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But Biden, who was to try to showcase NATO’s strength in a sum-up speech Wednesday evening, was not willing to take that step, even as the United States continues to provide more weapons and ammunition than any other country to Ukraine. —Chris Megerian and Seung Min Kim, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2023

Radar is a weekly sum-up of things to see and do at Orlando’s theme parks and attractions. —Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2023

Verb

What is most appealing varies from player to player, but Doval summed up his appreciation of the culture here in two words. —Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2024

For the past three years, IEEE Spectrum has read the whole damn thing and pulled out a selection of charts that sum up the current state of AI (see our coverage from 2021, 2022, and 2023). —IEEE Spectrum, 15 Apr. 2024

On April 9, Griselda's leading lady was captured by photographers in a look that sums up her formula for styling oversized jeans: mistake-proof footwear, but also a practical top that wears well from day to night. —Luz García, Glamour, 9 Apr. 2024

Gabriella Clare Marino/Unsplash Any anecdotes that really sum up this region during this time of year? —Erin Florio, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Apr. 2024

These works redefined my notion of what music could be, and Nevermind is the proof that it can all be summed up into a simple, powerful, coherent whole. —Daniel Kohn, SPIN, 5 Apr. 2024

Sewell may play Andrew more bumbling than arrogant, even though the second descriptive better sums up the real prince’s attitude throughout that exchange, yet the notion of an supposedly untouchable man repeatedly shooting himself in the crotch remains. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2024

Call it a victory lap, or a culmination, but the performance summed up what makes Dre such an enduring figure. —A.d. Amorosi, Variety, 19 Mar. 2024

The sense of unguarded affection perfectly sums up Don’t Forget Me. —Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1848, in the meaning defined above

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

sum up

verb

1

: to state concisely

a sentence that sums up the important ideas

2

: to present a summary