add

add — verb

1. to do the calculation that joins several figures into one total result.

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveA2
Definition

to do the calculation that joins several figures into one total result.

Example

If you add 27 and 36 carefully, you will get 63.

add + number + and + number for arithmetic

Mei Lin asked her son to add the prices on the receipt.

Common collocations
  • add up
  • add together
  • add the numbers
  • add the total
Synonyms
  • sum

    more formal, often used as a noun ('the sum of') rather than a verb

  • total

    implies reaching a final figure; often used with bills or scores

  • tally

    informal, often for counting items one by one

Antonyms
  • subtract

    to take one number away from another

  • deduct

    more formal, often used about money or scores

Grammar Patterns

add + numbers

add + numbers + together

add + number + to + number

Usage Note

Frequently paired with 'up' (add up the bill) or 'together' (add the numbers together). Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is purely arithmetic, not about putting physical things with other things.

Common Mistakes

Add 5 with 3.
Add 5 and 3.' or 'Add 5 to 3.
use 'and' or 'to' between numbers, not 'with'.
I added all numbers and the result is 100.
I added all the numbers and got 100.
use 'got' for the result of a calculation.

2. to put one thing together with another so that the group becomes bigger, the amo

2.verbtransitiveA2
Definition

to put one thing together with another so that the group becomes bigger, the amount grows, or the result becomes better.

Example

Gita added a spoonful of sugar to his coffee.

add + object + to + container/recipient

The chef added fresh basil to the tomato sauce.

Common collocations
  • add salt
  • add sugar
  • add water
  • add to the list
  • add value
  • add interest
Synonyms
  • include

    focuses on making something part of a group; less about physical mixing

  • mix in

    implies stirring or blending, mostly for liquids and food

  • attach

    implies fastening or connecting, often for documents or objects

Antonyms
  • remove

    to take something out of a group or place

  • take away

    everyday alternative to 'remove'

Grammar Patterns

add + something + to + something

add + something + into + something

Usage Note

Object can be physical (sugar, basil) or abstract (charm, value, weight). The preposition 'to' marks the recipient. Distinguish from sense 1: here things are joined physically or to a list, not calculated.

Common Mistakes

She added sugar in her tea.
She added sugar to her tea.
use 'to', not 'in', for the recipient.
Add the new member into our team.
Add the new member to our team.
'to' is standard with groups and lists.

3. to say one more thing after you have already spoken, often to give extra informa

3.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to say one more thing after you have already spoken, often to give extra information or a final comment.

Example

Dr. Mira explained the test results, and added that more rest would help.

add + that-clause for extra information

'And don't forget your umbrella,' Grandma added as Sofia left the house.

add + direct quotation in dialogue

Common collocations
  • add that
  • add quickly
  • add jokingly
  • add finally
  • I should add
Synonyms
  • remark

    more formal, often for a passing comment

  • note

    neutral, often used in writing or careful speech

  • mention

    implies bringing something up briefly, not always after another statement

Grammar Patterns

add + that-clause

add + direct quotation

add + ', she said'

Usage Note

Common in reported speech, especially after 'and'. Often introduces a final clarifying or polite remark. Distinguish from senses 1 and 2: here the object is words, not numbers or things.

Common Mistakes

He added me that the train was late.
He added that the train was late.
never put a personal indirect object between 'add' and the that-clause.
She added to say goodbye.
She added, "Goodbye," as she left.
use a that-clause or direct quotation, not a to-infinitive.
Phrasal verbs

add up

phrasal verb

to find the total of several numbers or amounts; or, when describing a story or fact, to seem reasonable and true.

Mei added up the receipts and saw she had spent over five hundred dollars.

Her story doesn't add up — she said she was at home, but her car was at the office.

add up to

phrasal verb

to make a particular total when joined together; or to result in a particular situation or meaning.

The bills for the trip added up to nearly two thousand dollars.

Long hours and low pay add up to an unhappy team.

add on

phrasal verb

to include something extra to a price, a number, or an existing thing.

The waiter added on a ten percent service charge to the bill.

The builders added on a small bedroom at the back of the house.

add to

phrasal verb

to make something already there bigger, stronger, or more noticeable.

Heavy traffic added to the stress of Anna's morning commute.

The dim candles added to the romantic feeling of the small restaurant.

add in

phrasal verb

To include something as part of a mixture, calculation, or plan.

Don't forget to add in the cost of tax when budgeting.

Maya added in some extra spices to make the soup tastier.

Idioms

add insult to injury

idiom

to make a bad situation worse by doing or saying something that hurts or annoys the person even more.

The airline lost Carla's luggage, and to add insult to injury, refused to pay any compensation.

He forgot her birthday, and added insult to injury by going out with friends that night.

add fuel to the fire

idiom

to do or say something that makes an angry situation or argument even worse.

Shouting back at her father only added fuel to the fire.

The newspaper's report added fuel to the fire of the political scandal.

added to this

idiom

used to bring in one more fact that supports a point you have just made.

The factory pays low wages; added to this, the working hours are very long.

Heavy rain damaged the crops, and added to this, the river flooded several villages.

added to this… | add to this…

idiom

This phrase is used to mention an extra fact that makes your previous point stronger.

Add to this the free breakfast, and the hotel is a great deal.

Added to this, the museum offers free entry on Sundays.

add — noun

add — abbreviation

Word family

  • addition
    nounA2
  • additional
    adjectiveB1
  • additionally
    adverbB2
  • additive
    nounC1
  • addable
    adjectiveC2
  • added
    adjectiveB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/2

All five verbs describe putting one thing together with another, but the focus differs. 'Add' is the everyday neutral choice — you add salt to soup, add a name to a list, add charm to a room. 'Include' is about membership: it stresses that something is now part of the group ('the price includes breakfast'). 'Attach' is physical or formal: you attach a file to an email or a document to a contract. 'Combine' suggests two roughly equal parts mixing into a whole (combine flour and butter); the result is often a single new thing. 'Incorporate' is more formal and often used for ideas, methods, or features taken into a larger plan ('the new design incorporates feedback from users'). So: add salt, include tax, attach a photo, combine ingredients, incorporate suggestions.

addincludeattachcombineincorporate

Common collocations

Nouns

  • sugar
  • salt
  • water
  • name
  • list
  • value
  • interest
  • weight
  • details

Adverbs

  • quickly
  • carefully
  • finally
  • later
  • simply
  • merely

Phrases

  • add a touch of
  • add the finishing touch
  • add to the problem
  • I should add
  • let me add
  • if I may add

Prepositions

  • to
  • into
  • together
  • up

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishModern English

'Add' came into English in the late 14th century from the Latin verb 'addere', formed from 'ad-' meaning 'to' and 'dare' meaning 'to give' — so the original idea was 'to give to' or 'to put toward'. The arithmetic sense (joining numbers to find a total) developed first in mathematical writing, and the broader sense of 'putting one thing with another' grew naturally from it. The 'say further' meaning, used in reported speech, appeared by the late 16th century.