Meaning

A quantity obtained by addition or aggregation..

Definitions by Sense

1. A quantity obtained by addition or aggregation.
2. (often plural) An arithmetic computation, especially one posed to a student as an exercise (not necessarily limited to addition).
3. A quantity of money.
4. A summary; the principal points or thoughts when viewed together; the substance.
5. A central idea or point; gist.
6. (rare or literary) The utmost degree; the greatest or most perfect realization (of some concept).
7. (obsolete) An old English measure of corn equal to the quarter.
8. (transitive) To add together.

Example Sentences

The sum of 3 and 4 is 7.

Take yee the ſumme of all the Congregation of the children of Iſrael,[…]

"Imagine a world in which every single person on the planet is given free access to the sum of all human knowledge. That's what we're doing."

We're learning about division, and the sums are tricky.

[…] a large sheet of paper […] covered with long sums […]

"I think it was a disgraceful performance from a captain that got his sums wrong today, and I think it should never be permitted to happen again."

a tidy sum

the sum of forty pounds

Word Forms

• sums
• summing
• summed
• sumy
• som
• soum
• somon
• sumon
• sumu

Synonyms for sum

Related Words

When Should You Use Sum?

Use sum when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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