Definition

1. Verb (intransitive):

   • To make sense; to be logical or reasonable: When facts or an explanation "add up," they form a coherent and believable whole.
   • To accumulate to a total: When separate amounts "add up," they combine to form a final sum or quantity.
   • To amount to something significant: When smaller parts or efforts "add up," they result in a meaningful or substantial outcome.

2. Verb (transitive):

   • To calculate the total of; to sum: To combine several numbers or quantities to find their total.

Usage Examples

• Verb (intransitive - to make sense):

  • Her story just doesn't add up; the timeline is impossible.
  • When you add up all the evidence, the conclusion is clear.

• Verb (intransitive - to accumulate):

  • These small expenses add up quickly.
  • The hours I spent on the project add up to more than a week.

• Verb (intransitive - to amount to):

  • All his hard work didn't add up to much in the end.
  • Their promises never add up to anything concrete.

• Verb (transitive - to calculate the total):

  • Can you add up these numbers for me?
  • She added up the bill to check it was correct.

Advanced Usage

• "It all adds up": A common phrase meaning everything is consistent and logical, leading to a single, clear conclusion.
  • He was seen near the scene, he had a motive, and he lied to the police. It all adds up.

Variants and Related Words

• Add (v): The base verb meaning to combine or join something to something else.
• Addition (n): The process of adding or something that is added.
• Additive (n/adj): A substance added to something; characterized by addition.

Synonyms

• Make sense, be consistent, hold water (for the "be logical" meaning).
• Total, sum, amount to, come to (for the "accumulate" meaning).
• Calculate, compute, tally, total (for the "calculate the total" meaning).

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Add on: To include an extra item or charge.
  • They added on a service fee to the final bill.
• Add in: To include something as part of a calculation or mixture.
  • Don't forget to add in the cost of shipping.

Related Idioms

• Add fuel to the fire: To make a bad situation worse.
  • Criticizing him now will only add fuel to the fire.
• Add insult to injury: To make a bad or disappointing situation even worse.
  • After losing the match, to add insult to injury, their bus broke down on the way home.

Verb

1. be reasonable or logical or comprehensible
2. add up in number or quantity
   • The bills amounted to $2,000
   • The bill came to $2,000
3. determine the sum of
   • Add all the people in this town to those of the neighboring town
4. develop into
   • This idea will never amount to anything
   • nothing came of his grandiose plans