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 .

Example Sentences

It all adds up to a $9 billion loss for farmers.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

That seems small, but small daily gains add up.

Read more on Barron's

We've all looked at our bank account and wondered why we don't have as much money as we thought we did, and suddenly, the bills, shopping and socialising begin to add up.

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These can add up to 38 hp of electric boost on their own, as well as recover energy from engine braking.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Even if only a fraction of these companies’ new hires require sponsorship, a $100,000 fee per petition adds up to many millions of dollars.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

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