definitions

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RELATED WORDS

try, resolve, propose, aim, contemplate, design, plan, destine, designate, mean, think, expect, represent, suggest, spell, say, portend, involve, indicate, imply

Nearby words

adat, adaxial, adazzle, adc, adcock antenna, add, add fuel to the fire, add insult to injury, add up, add up to, add-in

Idioms

    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.

Origin of add

1325–75; Middle English adden < Latin addere, equivalent to ad- ad- + -dere to put (combining form; see do1)
Related forms
Can be confusedad add oddaddable edibleadds ads adz
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for add up (1 of 3)

add up

verb (adverb)

to find the sum (of)
(intr) to result in a correct total
(intr) informal to make sense
(intr foll by to) to amount to

British Dictionary definitions for add up (2 of 3)

add

/ (æd) /

verb

noun

informal an instance of adding someone to one's list of contacts on a social networking site, esp MySpaceThanks for the add!
See also add up

Word Origin for add

C14: from Latin addere, literally: to put to, from ad- to + -dere to put

British Dictionary definitions for add up (3 of 3)

ADD

abbreviation for

attention deficit disorder
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for add up

add

v.

late 14c., "to join or unite (something to something else)," from Latin addere "add to, join, attach, place upon," from ad- "to" (see ad-) + -dere comb. form meaning "to put, place," from dare "to give" (see date (n.1)). Meaning "to do sums, do addition" also is from late 14c. Related: Added; adding. To add up "make sense" is from 1942.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Medicine definitions for add up

ADD

abbr.

attention deficit disorder
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Science definitions for add up

ADD

Abbreviation of attention deficit disorder
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Idioms and Phrases with add up

add up

1

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

2

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

3

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

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.