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.
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Recent Examples of sum
Max Zahn, ABC News, 17 July 2025
In sum, the rally in the cryptocurrency market has been explosive, and while consolidation can be expected, the breakouts serve as technical catalysts that warrant long-term exposure.
—Katie Stockton, CNBC, 14 July 2025
Dan Cancian, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
To sum it up, Skechers’ BOBS Arch Fit Utopia has all the makings of a classic Converse style, but manages to one-up the OG with its comfier design.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sum
Noun
Widespread inflation worries would prove counterproductive, risking high interest rates because a potential bout of high inflation would eat away at the value of debt payments and require larger sums to make up the difference, Edelberg said.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 17 July 2025
In sum, the rally in the cryptocurrency market has been explosive, and while consolidation can be expected, the breakouts serve as technical catalysts that warrant long-term exposure.
—Katie Stockton, CNBC, 14 July 2025
Verb
After Inter Miami crashed out of the Club World Cup following a 4-0 dismantling at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday, Jordi Alba succinctly summed his team’s predicament.
—Dan Cancian, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
To sum it up, Skechers’ BOBS Arch Fit Utopia has all the makings of a classic Converse style, but manages to one-up the OG with its comfier design.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sum
Noun
-
After years of outreach and investment in contracts with cell phone providers, officials have built a database of roughly 1.6 million numbers, covering about 75% of the capital-area population in total.—
Bayliss Wagner,
Austin American Statesman,
25 July 2025
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The Treasury's monthly reports indicate that such gifts remain modest in scale; in fiscal year 2022, Americans contributed a total of $180,310.32 in voluntary donations toward reducing the national debt.—
Theo Burman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 July 2025
Noun
-
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in the Miami Herald newsroom.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
1 Aug. 2025
-
The platform is currently testing Reddit Answers, a feature that works like an AI chatbot but curates summaries exclusively from Reddit threads.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Residents can check wave height predictions by viewing the NWS Great Lakes Portal, which updates wave heights, wind gusts and air temperature forecasts.—
Sarah Moore,
Freep.com,
31 July 2025
-
The additional height — up to a maximum of 90 feet — and greater density would be in exchange for the developer setting aside 10% to 12% of the new units at below-market rents.—
Shonda Novak,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
Noun
-
With continuation funds, asset managers in essence are using new investors’ money to pay off old ones.—
Hank Tucker,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
-
The miscommunication that Scorsese’s blurb refers to as the essence of our crise is the product of both political tragedy and B-movie sensationalism.—
Armond White,
National Review,
23 July 2025
Verb
-
The aquarium added that the giant Pacific octopus can lift up to 700 pounds.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
People.com,
2 Aug. 2025
-
Gagliardi also recommends adding a solution like Clorox2™ in with your detergent, as the hydrogen peroxide in the formula can also help remove smells like chlorine.—
Kendall Bettle,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
This will be a total solar eclipse with an extraordinarily long totality, but only for those in one specific place.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
-
Taken in their totality — State Farm’s sudden, massive rate hike, the lack of transparency and the ongoing lobbying to avoid scrutiny — these events lead us to believe that State Farm may not be basing its rates on the actual data here in Illinois.—
JB Pritzker,
Chicago Tribune,
30 July 2025
Noun
-
If the war in Vietnam marked the pinnacle of war journalism, and AP had a legendary perch in that war, much of it was due to Faas.—
Gary Knight,
Rolling Stone,
1 Aug. 2025
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The world tells of success as such a wonderful story, the pinnacle of happiness.—
Sarah Shephard,
New York Times,
30 July 2025
Noun
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Without taking care of the root cause, new rodents can move in and continue to chew through repairs or other wiring throughout your home, perpetuating the cycle of hazards.—
Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
1 Aug. 2025
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But such tools address symptoms rather than root causes, said Andrew Rumbach, a senior researcher at the Urban Institute who studies disaster risk and resilience.—
Bayliss Wagner,
Austin American Statesman,
1 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sum. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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