the sum of

idiom

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

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When these elements work in unison, the outcome is greater than the sum of its parts: a business that’s not just agile, but unstoppable. Jan Gilg, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025 He’s always punched above his weight and made a team more than the sum of its parts. Liam Tharme, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025 Yet Danielson’s message of sacrifice and accountability has resonated for this group, providing that extra variable needed to elevate a good team, at a school that has always had to do a little more with a little less and be greater than the sum of its parts. Justin Williams, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024 This Pasta Dish Has Layers of Flavor Beyond the obvious ones in the recipe name, there are some other ingredients that make this dish taste like more than the sum of its parts. Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2024 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 22 Jan. 2025.

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