sum

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈsəm 

1

: an indefinite or specified amount of money

2

: the whole amount : aggregate

3

: the utmost degree : summit

reached the sum of human happiness

4

a

: a summary of the chief points or thoughts : summation

The sum of this criticism follows: …

—Charles W. Hendel

b

: gist

the sum and substance of an argument

5

a(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

summability

ˌsə-mə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

summable

ˈsə-mə-bəl 

adjective

see also:

in sum

sum

2 of 3

verb

summed; summing

transitive verb

1

: to calculate the sum of : total

2

: summarize

intransitive verb

: to reach a sum : amount

sum

3 of 3

noun (2)

ˈsəm 

plural sums

: the basic monetary unit of Uzbekistan see Money Table

Synonyms of sum

Noun (1)

• total
• totality
• whole

Verb

• add

Examples of sum in a Sentence

Noun (1)

the sum of human knowledge on that subject

the district attorney delivered a sum of the evidence against the accused that was simply staggering

he declared that he had reached the sum of joy when his newborn daughter was laid in his arms

the sum of the issue is: who will pay for this?

Verb

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Tom Steyer has poured more than $100 million into California’s governor’s race — a staggering sum that’s helping vault him into the top tier after months of lagging in the polls. —Grace Hase, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2026

Since 2016, federal officials allege, Meade has been trying to avoid paying the tax obligation through a number of tactics, which include withdrawing large sums of cash and purchasing cashier’s checks from his business accounts. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 24 Apr. 2026

Verb

And that talk was just, to sum it up, really just, ‘Hey, go play basketball. —Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 22 Apr. 2026

Center’s Tamina Health Concept sums it up. —Matt Emma, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing sum

• dim sum
• direct sum
• greater/better/more than the sum of its parts
• in sum
• lump sum
• princely sum
• sum and substance
• sum total
• sum-up
• the sum of
• the sum total
• vector sum
• zero-sum
• zero-sum game

Rhymes for sum

• bum
• chum
• come
• crum
• cum
• drum
• dum
• dumb
• from
• frum
• glum
• gum

Kids Definition

sum

1 of 2 noun

ˈsəm 

1

: an indefinite or specified amount of money

2

: the whole amount

the sum of your experience

3

a

: a summary of the chief points or thoughts

b

: the main point

the sum and substance of an argument

4

a

: the result of adding numbers

the sum of 5 and 7 is 12

b

: a problem in arithmetic

sum

2 of 2 verb

summed; summing

1

: to calculate the sum of : total

2

: to reach a sum : amount

—usually used with to