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
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
Laura Barcella, People.com, 27 Feb. 2025
In sum, the potential number of vehicle units impacted are 137,256, the agency reported.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2025
Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2025
As for the impact the trend has had on TikTok, one user summed it up for everyone.
—Paloma Chavez, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sum
Noun
Investigating further, detectives found that large sums of money were allegedly being transferred from Romano’s accounts into accounts connected to Schiliro — and another suspect, Silviano Christman, was with Schiliro during that time.
—Laura Barcella, People.com, 27 Feb. 2025
In sum, the potential number of vehicle units impacted are 137,256, the agency reported.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2025
Verb
Modine sums it up with a story that’s both touching and insane at the same time.
—Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2025
As for the impact the trend has had on TikTok, one user summed it up for everyone.
—Paloma Chavez, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sum
Noun
-
The company had offered 17.06 million shares in its IPO, raising a total of HK$3.45 billion.—
Lee Ying Shan,Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
3 Mar. 2025
-
The state fire marshal said that there were more than than 175 wildfires in the state burning a total of 4,200 acres, according to the governor’s office.—
Amy Graff,
New York Times,
2 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Agencies will still be allowed to offer documents and services in languages other than English, according to a White House summary of the order seen by The Wall Street Journal.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
-
The military released only a summary of the report and military officials outlined its findings.—
MOHAMMAD JAHJOUH, WAFAA SHURAFA, NATALIE MELZER AND TIA GOLDENBERG THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
arkansasonline.com,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Consider height: Male individuals are, on average, about 8 percent taller than female ones.—
Agustín Fuentes,
Scientific American,
25 Feb. 2025
-
Tightly woven, strong fibers with low pile heights (thinner) also shed less, another boon for little crawlers with allergies.—
Briana Feigon,
Architectural Digest,
24 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Bob’s voice is so hard, and his essence is so hard.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
2 Mar. 2025
-
In essence, the Israelis want phase one to continue – the exchange of hostages, alive and deceased, in return for the continued release of Palestinian prisoners and the flow of higher volumes of aid into Gaza.—
Ibrahim Dahman,
CNN,
1 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Chaudhari added that according to Indian navy intelligence, China is building aircraft carriers, two of which will be deployed in the Indian Ocean.—
Seema Mody,
CNBC,
27 Feb. 2025
-
Graduate-student unions, which now represent more than 150,000 students nationwide, add another layer of uncertainty.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
On the contrary, the credit rating agencies and bond investors understood that the city structures individual debt financings and refinancings to achieve optimal results for taxpayers in totality.—
Pat Dowell,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Feb. 2025
-
Each franchise is different in the totality of their worth.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
For many people, going to Harvard University is the pinnacle of education, but in reality, less than four percent of applicants get accepted into the prestigious Ivy League school.—
Alyce Collins,
Newsweek,
22 Feb. 2025
-
An elite teenage athlete like Malinin ends up making trade offs in order to reach the pinnacle of his sport.—
Tim Genske,
Forbes,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
This allergy medication targets the root of the problem that causes red, scaly and itchy skin.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Feb. 2025
-
But these are temporary fixes that fail to address the root cause: a healthcare system that is failing to match the supply with demand.—
Renee Hsia,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sum. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share