sum 1 of 2

noun

ˈsəm How to pronounce sum (audio)
Definition of sumnext
1
as in total
a complete amount of something the sum of human knowledge on that subject

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in summary
a short statement of the main points the district attorney delivered a sum of the evidence against the accused that was simply staggering

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in height
the highest part or point he declared that he had reached the sum of joy when his newborn daughter was laid in his arms

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in essence
the central part or aspect of something under consideration the sum of the issue is: who will pay for this?

Synonyms & Similar Words

sum

2 of 2

verb

as in to add
to combine (numbers) into a single sum can sum figures in his head faster than I can punch them into a calculator

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sum
Noun
The France Under-20 international’s ceiling is extremely high, though, which is why Newcastle have invested another sizeable sum in someone who has only just celebrated his 20th birthday. — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 24 July 2026 Half the sum will be covered by the actor and producer Tyler Perry, who also paid for the funeral, Sharpton noted. — ABC News, 22 July 2026
Verb
To sum that up, this is a moisturizer that both reduces and stops new signs of aging. — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 2 July 2026 The late Bill Carr, a former Florida athletic director who was Houston’s AD when the SWC breakup began, once summed this up to me in a way that still sticks. — Sam Khan Jr, New York Times, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for sum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sum
  1. total
  2. summary
  3. height
  4. essence
  5. add
  6. totality
  7. pinnacle
  8. root
Noun
  • Bertha is expected to produce total rainfall amounts of 1 to 4 inches with isolated higher totals to 6 inches through Thursday along the central Gulf Coast from western Florida through southern Louisiana.
    — MIAMI HERALD HURRICANE BOT, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026
  • Counting signatures on a separate support letter written by non-STEM faculty, a total of about 3,300 professors are calling for a reinstatement of standardized testing.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of total
Noun
  • That observation may be the clearest summary of Hawk’s philosophy.
    — Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Michigan didn’t put the entire Sherrone Moore scandal at Manuel’s feet, but the summary released by the university pointed to numerous issues that occurred on his watch, including a failure to respond quickly to allegations of misconduct.
    — Austin Meek, New York Times, 21 July 2026
Definition of summary
Noun
  • In the fall, the flashy Waldorf Astoria Hotel & Residences, designed like a stack of nine askew cubes, will soar past to its final height of 1,049 feet.
    — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
  • By the time Phaedra’s birthday dinner rolls around, the sound of Porsha sharpening her knives reaches its height.
    — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 20 July 2026
Definition of height
Noun
  • That never crossed my mind before, but now in 2026, our reggaeton, our essence and our sound has become important in Mexico and even more so on a Latino level.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026
  • But that all seems to funnel into these six tracks, mixing momentum and wisdom to arrive at the essence of the pedal steel—extreme highs, extreme lows, the expanse in between, out where life is lived.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 20 July 2026
Definition of essence
Verb
  • The research firm added that while CXMT's technology still lags global memory leaders, domestic internet giants spearheading AI development will likely drive robust adoption of its chips as Beijing pushes for semiconductor self-sufficiency.
    — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 27 July 2026
  • For families Families are welcome and extra beds can be added, but bear in mind the elevation, rocky terrain and malaria risk.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 July 2026
Definition of add
Noun
  • The path of totality — the moon’s dark shadow — will cross eastern Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain, from where the sun’s corona will become visible, if skies are clear, for up to 2 minutes 18 seconds.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • Iceland has fewer lodging hubs within the path of totality, which crosses Reykjavik, the Reykjanes Peninsula, Snæfellsnes, and part of the Westfjords.
    — Stefanie Waldek, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 July 2026
Definition of totality
Noun
  • Fourteen years earlier, his debut feature, Ossessione, had effectively birthed Italian neorealism, and Visconti had followed it up with La Terra Trema (1948), one of the absolute pinnacles of the movement.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 24 July 2026
  • The same cannot be said of GB1, the new brand name for Ainslie’s fourth assault on the America’s Cup, regarded as the pinnacle of international sailing.
    — Andrew Rice, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Definition of pinnacle
Noun
  • The Northernmost Tree For now, most commercial breadfruit groves are still setting root, leaving the growing to the same type of people who once introduced it to the region — the plant fanatics.
    — Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026
  • Reforming Social Security by cutting benefits for rich people and raising them for poor people would make the most financial sense and return the program to its roots.
    — Marc Novicoff, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
Definition of root

Phrases Containing sum

Browse Nearby Words

sultry
sum
sum and substance
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sum. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on sum

Nglish: Translation of sum for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of parochial

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
chain-question-mark
Missing Link Quiz July 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All