add up

verb

added up; adding up; adds up

intransitive verb

1

a

: to come to the expected total

the bill doesn't add up

b

: to form an intelligible pattern : make sense

her story just doesn't add up

2

a

: amount sense 1b

—used with to

the play adds up to a lot of laughs

b

: to amount to a lot

just a little each time, but it all adds up

transitive verb

: to form an opinion of

added him up at a glance

Synonyms

• amount (to)
• come (to)
• correspond (to)
• emulate
• equal

Examples of add up in a Sentence

whether we take the 4:00 train or the 4:15 bus, it adds up to the same thing: they both get us back too late

even if we pool all our money, it won't add up to enough to rent a beach house for a week

Recent Examples on the Web

Eventually, all those blunders would add up, and combined with a disastrous debate performance, would ultimately lead to the end of his reelection campaign and decades-long political career. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024

Tweaks to our sleep, diet, social lives and exercise habits all add up. —Andrea Muraskin, NPR, 31 Dec. 2024

So, the total availability could add up to around 2,100 visas for urban investors and 4,200 visas for rural investors. —Sam Silverman, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024

Also be sure to take a look at grocery bills and the tendency to add spontaneous purchases that can add up, Jenkin said. —Lorie Konish, CNBC, 30 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2

Kids Definition

add up

verb

1

a

: to come to a total and especially the expected total

b

: to make sense

her story just doesn't add up

2

: to amount to a lot

just a little each time, but it all adds up