the sum of

phrase

1
: an amount of (money)
I paid the sum of $500.
2
: the result of (adding two or more numbers together)
The sum of 5 and 7 is 12
3
: all there is of : the whole amount of
Working odd summer jobs has been the sum of my experience so far.

Examples of the sum of in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Base money, the sum of currency and those reserve balances, expands one for one with the purchase. James Broughel, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026 Though there’s nothing that truly stands out about his game, the sum of the parts could lead to him being a bottom-six winger with a chance to be an NHL center, too. Corey Pronman, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026 Poets take language—this very pedestrian, perfunctory material—and strip it down while also turning it into something greater than the sum of its parts. Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 14 Aug. 2026 Where a ham and cheese or BLT can be reduced to the sum of their parts, a good veggie sandwich—especially one that is intended to be a meal, not a snack—requires some rumination. Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for the sum of

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Cite this Entry

“The sum of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20sum%20of. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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