sum
suhm
Sum (noun) means the total obtained by adding numbers or quantities together. Example: “The sum of five and three is eight.”
noun
1
The total obtained by adding numbers or quantities together.
"The sum of five and three is eight."
"They calculated the sum of all the invoices."
"The sum of the three bills was more than we expected."
2
An amount of money.
"He was fined a large sum for the violation."
"She saved a small sum each month for her holiday."
"The charity received a generous sum from an anonymous donor."
verb
1
To add numbers or items together, or to summarize.
"The spreadsheet automatically sums the column."
"To sum up, the plan needs more funding."
"Can you sum the figures in this column for me?"
How to use sum
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA total from adding things up, an amount of money, or (as a verb) to add up or summarize.
Common pairings
sum of money
sum up
lump sum
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Word forms
- Plural
- sums, sumy
- Third person singular
- sums
- Past tense
- summed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ of five and three is eight.
Etymology
From Old French summe, from Latin summa, "highest point, total," from summus, "highest."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “sum” mean?
The word “sum” means the total obtained by adding numbers or quantities together. In plain terms, a total from adding things up, an amount of money, or (as a verb) to add up or summarize.
How do you pronounce “sum”?
“Sum” is pronounced suhm (/sʌm/ in IPA).
How do you use “sum” in a sentence?
Here is “sum” used in a sentence: “The sum of five and three is eight.”
What part of speech is “sum”?
Depending on how it is used, “sum” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “sum” come from?
The word “sum” comes from Latin. From Old French summe, from Latin summa, "highest point, total," from summus, "highest.".
Is “sum” a common word?
“Sum” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “sum” have?
“Sum” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the total obtained by adding numbers or quantities together.
What is the difference between sum and total?
A sum is the result of adding numbers or quantities together, which makes it very close to a total. "Total" is the more everyday word, while "sum" is common in mathematics and can also mean an amount of money.
What is the difference between "sum" and "sum up"?
As a noun, "sum" is a total or amount. The phrasal verb "sum up" means to summarize, as in "to sum up the main points," and is unrelated to arithmetic addition in this use.
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