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• add
  add

  verb (used with object)

  to unite or join so as to increase the number, quantity, size, or importance.
• ADD
  ADD

  abbreviation

  attention deficit disorder: the inattentive subtype of ADHD, usually marked by distractibility and difficulties with executive function.

add

¹ American  

[ad] / æd /

verb (used with object)

• adds,
  present (3rd person singular)
• added,
  past participle,  past
• adding
  present participle

1. 

   to unite or join so as to increase the number, quantity, size, or importance.

   to add two cups of sugar; to add a postscript to her letter;

   to add insult to injury.

   Synonyms:

   adjoin, attach, append, affix

2. to find the sum of (often followed byup ).

   Add this column of figures.

   Add up the grocery bills.

   Synonyms:

   sum, total

3. to say or write further.

4. to include (usually followed byin ).

   Don't forget to add in the tip.

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verb (used without object)

• adds,
  present (3rd person singular)
• added,
  past participle,  past
• adding
  present participle

1. to perform the arithmetic operation of addition.

   children learning to add and subtract.

2. to be or serve as an addition (usually followed byto ).

   His illness added to the family's troubles.

noun

1. Journalism. copy added to a completed story.

verb phrase

1. add up to to signify; indicate.

   The evidence adds up to a case of murder.

idioms

1. add up,

   1. to make the desired, expected, or correct total.

      These figures don't add up right.

   2. to seem reasonable or consistent; be in harmony or accord.

      Some aspects of the story didn't add up.

ADD ² American  

[ay-dee-dee] / ˈeɪˈdiˈdi /

abbreviation

1. attention deficit disorder: the inattentive subtype of ADHD, usually marked by distractibility and difficulties with executive function.

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add ¹ British  

/ æd /

verb

1. to combine (two or more numbers or quantities) by addition

2. to increase (a number or quantity) by another number or quantity using addition

3. to join (something) to something else in order to increase the size, quantity, effect, or scope; unite (with)

   to add insult to injury

4. to have an extra and increased effect (on)

   her illness added to his worries

5. (tr) to say or write further

6. to include

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noun

1. informal an instance of adding someone to one's list of contacts on a social networking site, esp MySpace

   Thanks for the add!

ADD ² British  

abbreviation

1. attention deficit disorder

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ADD Scientific  

1. Abbreviation of attention deficit disorder

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• misadd
  verb
• readd
  verb (used with object)
• addable
  adjective
• addible
  adjective
• unaddable
  adjective
• unadded
  adjective
• unaddible
  adjective
• addedly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• adding
  present
• added
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• add
  simple
• adds
  simple
• have added
  perfect
• has added
  perfect
• am adding
  progressive
• are adding
  progressive
• is adding
  progressive
• have been adding
  perfect progressive
• has been adding
  perfect progressive

Past

• added
  simple
• had added
  perfect
• was adding
  progressive
• were adding
  progressive
• had been adding
  perfect progressive

Future

• will add
  simple
• will have added
  perfect
• will be adding
  progressive
• will have been adding
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of add¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English adden, from Latin addere, equivalent to ad- ad- + -dere “to put” (combining form; see do ¹)

Origin of ADD²

First recorded in 1975–80

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Explanation

When you add, you join two or more things together. If you add on to your summer cottage, you build an extra room that's connected to your existing house. If your boss adds ten dollars to your paycheck, she gives you the money in addition to, or on top of, your salary. And when you add a column of numbers, you combine each one in the list until you get a final answer. You might verbally add something by making one last statement: "I'd like to add that I can't wait to visit again!" The Latin root is addere, "add to, join, or attach."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

add ADD adds added adding

For many families, the costs can add up quickly.

From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2026

Confirming moons beyond our Solar System would do more than add another category of objects to astronomical catalogs.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 25, 2026

A rise in the dollar toward ¥160 could trigger the next round of yen-buying intervention, with the aim of pushing it below ¥155, the strategists add.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

“So, this is a huge area where identifying interventions that could hopefully add quality of life to the people impacted by this disorder would be tremendously impactful.”

From Science Daily ● Oct. 23, 2026

My cousin, who keeps urging me to add a hydrating serum with hyaluronic acid and vitamin C to my skincare regime.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Maybe, as certain people have suggested to me, we’re all a little ADD.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026

"Women are raised in a different way," DeGeneres says, before sharing a personal moment about growing up in a neglectful home, and having OCD and ADD.

From Salon ● Sep. 24, 2024

“I have ADD and I’m dyslexic, so learning a lot of dialogue was always very daunting,” said Saldaña in an interview prior to the start of the actors strike.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 20, 2023

“I was diagnosed with ADD when I was in 9th grade after a couple of years of not knowing why I couldn’t keep up,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 23, 2023

Ironically, the last time I was at UCI, I was in their Child Development Center being treated for ADD when I was eight years old.

From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers

"If I lost my job, we've got one month – maybe two – and then we are the real poor," she adds.

From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2026

Buying one a week adds up to about $1,100 over three years.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026

"These results are extremely exciting," adds Roberto Maiolino, professor at the University of Cambridge and co-author of the study.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 25, 2026

“It’s important to find the right buyer because it’s a special place. You can ski and still be home for dinner,” he adds.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2026

“Hey,” Mom adds as she pulls into the motel parking lot.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy

On the eve of the first Rough Sleeping Summit at Downing Street on Monday, No 10 has indicated a further £432m will be added to the initiative in Wednesday's Budget.

From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2026

"Once dialogue ended, the operation led to 31 arrests for disobedience," the police added.

From Barron's ● Oct. 25, 2026

Cooper added more costumes as new Disney movies came out, as well as updating the old ones, Caprilozzi says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026

It added after she was swept away, she was brought to the ferry dock where CPR was given.

From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2026

“And that, and that!” he added, taking two more steps back.

From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el

The Met Office has urged people to "stay indoors as much as possible", adding: "If you do go out, try not to walk, or shelter, close to buildings and trees."

From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2026

We are a long way from crisis, though, and a bond yield of 5% is nowhere near the level that would have emerging-market finance ministers adding the IMF on speed-dial.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026

He told AFP he had only a short time to pack, adding that for some residents, getting out of the neighbourhood was an ordeal.

From Barron's ● Oct. 24, 2026

These included updating the warming hut and clubhouse and adding a mountain bike park.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2026

Frankie asked, adding a dash of milk to his tea.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

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Related Words

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