add up
verb
added up; adding up; adds up
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
: to form an opinion of
added him up at a glance
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
That roughly adds up to between $100 to $200 in annual savings per driver in 2025, depending on drivers’ locations and habits, according to the US Energy Administration and the Department of Transportation.
—
David Goldman, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
The measure could add up to 42 instructional hours to school calendars.
—Nuria Martinez-Keel, Oklahoma Voice, 20 Feb. 2026
Research shows being tapped into a social network increases the chances that people do health-supportive behaviors, like go to the gym, eat a balanced diet, and steer clear of smoking and drug use—all of which can add up to a longer life.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 19 Feb. 2026
The additional six stores will add up to 600 new full- and part-time jobs.
—Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for add up
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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David Goldman, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
The measure could add up to 42 instructional hours to school calendars.
—Nuria Martinez-Keel, Oklahoma Voice, 20 Feb. 2026
Research shows being tapped into a social network increases the chances that people do health-supportive behaviors, like go to the gym, eat a balanced diet, and steer clear of smoking and drug use—all of which can add up to a longer life.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 19 Feb. 2026
The additional six stores will add up to 600 new full- and part-time jobs.
—Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for add up
Cite this Entry
“Add up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/add%20up. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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