summation
noun
sum·ma·tion
(ˌ)sə-ˈmā-shən 
1
: the act or process of forming a sum : addition
3
: cumulative action or effect
especially
: the process by which a sequence of stimuli that are individually inadequate to produce a response are cumulatively able to induce a nerve impulse
4
: a final part of an argument reviewing points made and expressing conclusions
Examples of summation in a Sentence
A summation can be found at the end of the report.
We gave a summation of our discovery.
The defense attorneys and prosecutors are set to make their final summations today.
Recent Examples on the Web
As much a summation of a career to date as a small-press treasure trove, Sunnylyn Thibodeaux’s Lucky Charms collects poems from over a dozen different publications by nearly as many presses.
—
Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Judging from the near-universal backlash to Timothée Chalamet’s recent bad-mouthing of ballet, Eden’s summation of the central tenet of their show may be true.
—Scot Paltrow, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
For an artist who has spent a lifetime collapsing the distance between art and life, this director’s cut is both summation and fresh invocation.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026
The text of the article is a reasonable summation of her career, beginning with the present (Wifey is a smash, in its third printing, paperback rights sold for $350,000) and looking back at her beginnings (the NYU writing class, early rejection letters).
—Mark Oppenheimer, Vulture, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for summation
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Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Judging from the near-universal backlash to Timothée Chalamet’s recent bad-mouthing of ballet, Eden’s summation of the central tenet of their show may be true.
—Scot Paltrow, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
For an artist who has spent a lifetime collapsing the distance between art and life, this director’s cut is both summation and fresh invocation.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026
The text of the article is a reasonable summation of her career, beginning with the present (Wifey is a smash, in its third printing, paperback rights sold for $350,000) and looking back at her beginnings (the NYU writing class, early rejection letters).
—Mark Oppenheimer, Vulture, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for summation
Cite this Entry
“Summation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/summation. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
summation
noun
sum·ma·tion
(ˌ)sə-ˈmā-shən
1
: the act or process of forming a sum : addition
2
3
: a final part of an argument reviewing points made and expressing conclusions
Medical Definition
summation
noun
sum·ma·tion
(ˌ)sə-ˈmā-shən
: cumulative action or effect
especially
: the process by which a sequence of stimuli that are individually inadequate to produce a response are cumulatively able to induce a nerve impulse see spatial summation, temporal summation
Legal Definition
summation
noun
sum·ma·tion
sə-ˈmā-shən
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