sum
sum — noun
1. a particular quantity of money, viewed as one complete figure
a particular quantity of money, viewed as one complete figure
The company offered Tariq a large sum for his share of the business.
large sum — a big amount of money
Indra received a small sum from her grandmother's will.
The charity managed to raise a tidy sum for the new hospital wing.
tidy sum — informal, fairly large amount
Aoi and her partner agreed to pay the outstanding sum in monthly instalments.
Investors put up a six-figure sum to launch the start-up.
six-figure sum — an amount between £100,000 and £999,999
- large sum
- small sum
- lump sum
- undisclosed sum
- six-figure sum
- tidy sum
- sum of money
- pay a sum
- raise a sum
Grammar Patterns
adjective + sum
sum of [money]
Usage Note
Often modified by adjectives that indicate size (large, small, tidy, undisclosed, six-figure, lump). The phrase 'lump sum' means a single payment made at once rather than in instalments.
Common Mistakes
2. the single figure obtained by combining several smaller numbers through addition
the single figure obtained by combining several smaller numbers through addition
The sum of twelve and eight is twenty.
sum of [X] and [Y] — basic addition pattern
Putri checked her calculator to make sure the sum was correct.
The class had to find the sum of three numbers written on the board.
Otis added up the prices and wrote the total at the bottom of the receipt.
add up prices — adding items to find the total cost
A running total appears at the bottom of the spreadsheet showing the cumulative sum.
- the sum of
- calculate the sum
- find the sum
- final sum
- running sum
- cumulative sum
- difference
the result of subtraction
Grammar Patterns
the sum of [numbers]
Usage Note
Frequently used in maths contexts with the pattern 'the sum of [X] and [Y]'. In everyday language, 'total' is more common outside of formal arithmetic.
Common Mistakes
3. the entire amount or complete collection of separate parts, thought of as one un
the entire amount or complete collection of separate parts, thought of as one unit
The sum of her experience made her the best person for the job.
sum of [someone]'s experience — all parts combined
In sum, the project was a success despite the early problems.
in sum — formal phrase meaning 'in short; considering everything'
The sum total of his belongings fit into two suitcases.
sum total — emphasises completeness
Tariro believed that the sum of human knowledge should be available to everyone.
The team was greater than the sum of its individual players.
- the sum of
- in sum
- sum total
- greater than the sum of its parts
Grammar Patterns
the sum of [parts]
in sum
Usage Note
Common in the fixed phrase 'in sum', which introduces a concluding summary. 'Sum total' is an emphatic form that stresses completeness. The idiom 'greater than the sum of its parts' is a set expression.
Common Mistakes
4. the whole of something, when that amount is surprisingly small or less than expe
the whole of something, when that amount is surprisingly small or less than expected
That ten-minute lesson was the sum of his training for the race.
the sum of [someone]'s training — the only preparation received
A quick glance was the sum of the attention Nadia gave to the report.
A bowl of rice was the sum of their food for the whole day.
Is that really the sum of what you learned in the course?
- the sum of
- the sum total of (ironic)
Grammar Patterns
not the sum of
the sum of [something] (small quantity)
Usage Note
This sense carries a tone of disappointment or understatement. It is almost always used to say that the total amount is surprisingly small. The pattern 'the sum of [something]' with this meaning implies 'only this and nothing more'.
5. a basic mathematics question that tests skill with the four standard operations
a basic mathematics question that tests skill with the four standard operations — plus, minus, times, and divide
The children were busy doing sums in their maths books.
do sums — British English for arithmetic problems
Aoi finished her sums before the rest of the class.
My father helped me check my sums before I handed in the homework.
The test had ten sums and a few word problems.
Some of the sums on the worksheet were quite tricky for a beginner.
- do sums
- check sums
- mental sums
- sums worksheet
- calculation
more general; can be simple or complex
- arithmetic problem
more explicit; used in American English
- math problem
common in American English
Grammar Patterns
do sums
Usage Note
Chiefly British English. In American English, 'arithmetic problems' or 'math problems' is more common. Usually appears in the plural form 'sums'.
Common Mistakes
6. the most important ideas or central meaning of a spoken or written piece, stated
the most important ideas or central meaning of a spoken or written piece, stated briefly
The sum and substance of her argument was that education needs more funding.
sum and substance — fixed phrase for 'core idea'
Christopher read the article and gave us the sum of it in two sentences.
The sum of the professor's lecture was that climate change affects everyone.
Can you give me the sum of what was decided at the meeting?
- the sum of
- the sum and substance of
Grammar Patterns
the sum and substance of [something]
Usage Note
Often appears in the fixed expression 'the sum and substance' (formal). This sense overlaps with verb sense 2 (summarize). Distinguish from noun sense 3 (the whole): sense 6 is about the core meaning, not the complete collection.
A group or system that works better together than each part could alone.
Our jazz band is greater than the sum of its parts.
Is this team more than the sum of its parts?
in sum
idiomA phrase used to give a brief summary of the main ideas.
In sum, the project was a complete success.
The report, in sum, recommends more funding.
sum — verb
1. to add together a set of figures to find their combined total
to add together a set of figures to find their combined total
The accountant summed the expenses for the month.
Heloísa summed up the scores from all three rounds.
sum up — phrasal verb for calculating total
Can you sum these numbers on the calculator for me?
The cashier summed the items on the receipt before asking for payment.
- sum up the costs
- sum the results
- sum the figures
Grammar Patterns
sum [numbers]
sum up [numbers]
Usage Note
Can be used with or without 'up' ('sum the figures' / 'sum up the figures'). 'Sum up' is more common in spoken English. 'Sum' alone can sound technical or formal.
Common Mistakes
2. to state the main ideas or most important facts about something in a brief and c
to state the main ideas or most important facts about something in a brief and clear way
Tamar summed up the discussion in just three sentences.
sum up — summarize the main points
To sum up, the plan needs more work before we can move forward.
to sum up — introductory phrase for a summary
The final paragraph sums up everything the writer wanted to say.
Can you sum up what the speaker said about the new policy?
sum up + wh-clause
Iker summed up his feelings about the trip with a single word: amazing.
- sum up
- to sum up
- sum up the situation
- sum up the argument
- sum up what
- elaborate
to give more detail rather than less
Grammar Patterns
sum up [topic]
to sum up, [summary]
sum up what/how/why...
Usage Note
Almost always used with 'up' in this sense. The standalone verb 'sum' (without 'up') as 'summarize' is very rare in modern English. 'To sum up' is a common discourse marker at the start of a concluding statement.
Common Mistakes
3. to reach a particular figure when added together; to come to a certain total
to reach a particular figure when added together; to come to a certain total
The donations summed to over ten thousand dollars.
sum to [amount] — reach a particular total
The costs for the wedding summed to more than they had planned.
The hours she spent volunteering summed to nearly two hundred this year.
The company's losses summed to half a million pounds after the fire.
- sum to
- sum to a total of
Grammar Patterns
sum to [total]
Usage Note
Always followed by 'to'. More formal than 'add up to' or 'come to'. In everyday conversation, 'comes to' is much more common (e.g. 'The bill comes to £45').
sum up
phrasal verbto give a brief statement of the main points of something, especially at the end of a discussion or piece of writing
To sum up, the company needs to cut costs and find new markets.
The judge summed up the evidence for the jury before they left the courtroom.
Rachel summed up her view of the film in two words: absolutely brilliant.
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/2
All four words refer to a complete amount made up of individual parts, but they differ in formality and context. 'Sum' is the standard term in arithmetic for the result of addition (the sum of 5 and 3 is 8). 'Total' is more common in everyday situations — you would ask for the total of a restaurant bill, not the sum. 'Aggregate' is formal and used in official, technical, or statistical contexts (the aggregate score across all matches). 'Whole' emphasises unity and completeness rather than the mathematical process of adding (the whole is greater than the parts). For example: 'The total on the till receipt was £47' (everyday) vs. 'The aggregate income of the group exceeded expectations' (formal statistical report).
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'sum' came into English from Old French 'summe', which itself came from Latin 'summa' meaning 'the top, the highest point, the whole'. The Latin word was a noun form of 'summus' (highest), which is related to 'super' (above). The mathematical meaning — the result of adding numbers together — developed from the idea of the 'highest' or 'most comprehensive' figure. The sense 'gist' or 'substance' (sum and substance) came later, treating the main ideas as the 'highest' or most important part.