1
: an indefinite or specified amount of money
2
: the whole amount : aggregate
3
: the utmost degree : summit
reached the sum of human happiness
4
5
a(1)
: the result of adding numbers
the sum of 5 and 7 is 12
(2)
: the limit of the sum of the first n terms of an infinite series as n increases indefinitely
b
: numbers to be added
broadly
: a problem in arithmetic
c(1)
(2)
Synonyms
Examples of sum in a Sentence
Noun (1)
the sum of human knowledge on that subject
the district attorney delivered a sum of the evidence against the accused that was simply staggering
he declared that he had reached the sum of joy when his newborn daughter was laid in his arms
the sum of the issue is: who will pay for this?
Verb
can sum figures in his head faster than I can punch them into a calculator
Recent Examples on the Web
Adriana Lee, WWD, 20 Oct. 2024
To sum it up: The federal student loan system is an even bigger mess than usual.
—Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 13 Oct. 2024
Xander Zellner, Billboard, 4 Nov. 2024
That might not sound like a lot, but as economists like me know, small sums add up over time.
—Charles Sims / The Conversation, Quartz, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sum 
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Verb
Victoria’s Secret chief information officer, Murali Sundararajan, summed it up in a commentary for the report.
—Adriana Lee, WWD, 20 Oct. 2024
To sum it up: The federal student loan system is an even bigger mess than usual.
—Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 13 Oct. 2024
Noun
Notably, the set was released on an off-cycle Monday (Oct. 28); thus, its first-week sum is from only four days of activity.
—Xander Zellner, Billboard, 4 Nov. 2024
That might not sound like a lot, but as economists like me know, small sums add up over time.
—Charles Sims / The Conversation, Quartz, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sum
Dictionary Entries Near sum
Cite this Entry
“Sum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sum. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sum
1 of 2 noun1
: an indefinite or specified amount of money
2
: the whole amount
the sum of your experience
3
a
: a summary of the chief points or thoughts
b
: the main point
the sum and substance of an argument
4
a
: the result of adding numbers
the sum of 5 and 7 is 12
b
: a problem in arithmetic
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