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
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
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Recent Examples of sum
Steve Gelsi, semafor.com, 14 Apr. 2026
At the time, according to the New York Times, Sotheby’s was selling the work without a guarantee, an agreement that entitles the seller to a sum whether or not the work finds a buyer.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
To sum it all up, the current bubble is a mess.
—Jim Root, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sum
Noun
In 2020, the firm paid an undisclosed sum for Almanac Realty Investors to broaden its real estate solutions business.
—Steve Gelsi, semafor.com, 14 Apr. 2026
At the time, according to the New York Times, Sotheby’s was selling the work without a guarantee, an agreement that entitles the seller to a sum whether or not the work finds a buyer.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
Chloé Farand summed it up for the Guardian, noting the researchers’ projection of 500,000 additional annual deaths due to inactivity by 2050.
—Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
To sum it all up, the current bubble is a mess.
—Jim Root, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sum
Noun
-
The 2026 games will host a total of 104 matches, 40 more than the previous edition in Qatar when 32 teams competed.—
Vivian Song,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Those costs were part of a $512 million total bond issuance on which taxpayers will pay a total of $140 million in interest over the next seven years.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The summary is usually ready within seconds after the appointment ends.—
Katherine Ruppelt,
Miami Herald,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Check out your summary of benefits for more details.—
Jackie Fortiér,
NPR,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that the 250-foot height will honor America's 250 years of existence.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Due to building restrictions, the team stuck with the original footprint but were able to extend the height 15 feet, making way for more gracious guest rooms.—
Hannah Martin,
Architectural Digest,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Time was of the essence, but the attackers, too, had been up against the clock.—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
How to extract the essence of a person from the clutter of days and years?—
Sara Wheeler,
Big Think,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Chopped nuts would add nice crunch.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Rickard Rakell has scored 10 goals and added three assists over the last 10 games.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Paradoxically, his quest for totality entailed a diminishment—of size, of scale, of material.—
Ara H. Merjian,
ARTnews.com,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Shooting with a filter also requires its manual removal during totality — or, when the sun is completely hidden by the moon — meaning a hand must enter the frame and interrupt the shot.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Therefore, it’s taken some time to infiltrate the mainstream, and 2026 is reaching pinnacle ballet flat supremacy.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Nearby was Haghpat Monastery, also named a UNESCO World Heritage site as the pinnacle of Armenian architecture.—
Marlise Kast-Myers,
Boston Herald,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The platform’s new AI agent, René, allows dispatchers and fleet managers to investigate operational inefficiencies through simple conversational queries, identifying the root causes of issues like excessive overtime or route deviations.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
In such cases, use of a deep root irrigator is recommended.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sum. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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