noun A1 Beginner Common

sum

suhm

Sum (noun) means the total obtained by adding numbers or quantities together. Example: “The sum of five and three is eight.”

noun

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."

An amount of money.

"He was fined a large sum for the violation."

verb

To add numbers or items together, or to summarize.

"The spreadsheet automatically sums the column."

"To sum up, the plan needs more funding."

How to use sum

Learner’s notes

In 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

Word forms

summed past tense, sums plural, sums plural, sumy plural, sums plural, Sums plural, sums singular

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The _____ of five and three is eight.

Etymology

From Old French summe, from Latin summa, "highest point, total," from summus, "highest."

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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total amount aggregate tally whole sum total

Related words

all whole total cost price amount figure match

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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