add up

verb

1. to find the sum (of)

2. (intr) to result in a correct total

3. informal,  (intr) to make sense

4. to amount to

Idioms and Phrases

Amount to an expected or correct total, as in These figures don't add up , meaning they are not correct. [Mid-1800s]

Be consistent, make sense, as in I'm not sure that all this testimony will add up . [First half of 1900s]

Assess, form an opinion of, as in He looked across the track and added up the competition . Also see add up to .

Related Words

• confirm 
• convince 
• demonstrate 
• determine 
• explain 
• find 
• justify 
• result 
• show 
• substantiate 
• test 
• try 
• turn out 
• validate 
• verify