Sum — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈsəm/

Meaning & Definition of Sum

Sum (noun)

  1. an indefinite or specified amount of money
  2. the whole amount, aggregate
  3. the utmost degree, summit
  4. the basic monetary unit of Uzbekistan

Sum (verb)

  1. to calculate the sum of, total
  2. summarize
  3. to reach a sum, amount

Sum (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a complete amount of something

    "the sum of human knowledge on that subject"

    similar: aggregate, full, sum total, summation, total, totality, whole, grand total, the whole bit, the whole kit and caboodle, the whole nine yards, the whole shebang
    related: gross, completeness, comprehensiveness, cumulativeness, entirety, bulk, lion's share, mass, enchilada, schmear
    near: net

  2. a short statement of the main points

    "the district attorney delivered a sum of the evidence against the accused that was simply staggering"

    similar: abstract, breviary, brief, capsule, conspectus, digest, encapsulation, epitome, inventory, outline, précis, recap, recapitulation, résumé, roundup, run-through, rundown, sum-up, summa, summarization, summary, summing-up, synopsis, wrap-up
    related: abbreviation, abridgment, compend, compendium, condensation, curtailment, shortening, simplification, streamlining, rehash, reprise, conclusion, epilogue
    near: amplification, enlargement, expansion, addendum, supplement

  3. the highest part or point

    "he declared that he had reached the sum of joy when his newborn daughter was laid in his arms"

    similar: acme, apex, apogee, capstone, climax, crescendo, crest, crown, culmination, head, height, high noon, high-water mark, meridian, ne plus ultra, noon, noontime, peak, pinnacle, summit, tip-top, top, zenith
    related: bloom, blossom, flood tide, flower, glory, heyday, prime, cap, ceiling, roof, extreme, extremity, tip, vertex, high, highlight, highspot
    opposite: bottom, nadir, rock bottom
    near: abyss, base, foot, minimum

  4. the central part or aspect of something under consideration

    "the sum of the issue is: who will pay for this?"

    similar: bottom line, bull's-eye, centerpiece, core, crux, essence, gist, heart, kernel, keynote, meat, meat and potatoes, net, nub, nubbin, nucleus, pith, pivot, point, root, sum and substance, the long and short
    related: course, direction, drift, tenor, body, content, substance, hypothesis, proposition, purport, subject, theme, thesis

Sum (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to combine (numbers) into a single sum

    "can sum figures in his head faster than I can punch them into a calculator"

    similar: add, cast (up), foot (up), summate, tot (up), total, totalize, tote (up), put together
    related: calculate, cipher, compute, figure, reckon, table, tabulate, tally, work out, count, enumerate, number, tell, recompute, refigure

Related Entry: Sum (to or into) (verb)

Sum (to or into) is a different word from Sum. The synonyms below are for sum (to or into), not for sum.

  1. to have a total of

    "a lifetime of charitable contributions that sum into the millions"

    similar: add up (to), aggregate, amount (to), come (to), count (up to), number, total, clock in at
    related: average, equal, measure, reach, compose, comprise, constitute, make up

Related Entry: Union (noun)

Union is a different word from Sum. The synonyms below are for union, not for sum.

  1. the act or an instance of joining two or more things into one

    "the union of East Germany and West Germany that became possible after the fall of communism"

    similar: combination, combining, connecting, connection, consolidation, coupling, junction, linking, merger, merging, unification
    related: agglomeration, amalgamation, blend, coalescence, commingling, compounding, fusion, intermingling, intermixture, mingling, mix, mixture, synthesis, reunification, reunion
    opposite: breakup, disconnection, dissolution, disunion, division, parting, partition, schism, scission, split
    near: detachment, divorcement, separation, severance

  2. an association of persons, parties, or states for mutual assistance and protection

    "in 1949 the U.S. and Canada joined their European allies in a transatlantic union to defend Western Europe from aggression by the Soviet Union"

    similar: alliance, axis, bloc, block, coalition, combination, combine, confederacy, confederation, federation, league
    related: cabal, conspiracy, junto, cartel, syndicate, trust, faction, front, fusion, side, wing, association, group, organization, affiliation, cooperative, partnership, circuit, conference

  3. the state of having shared interests or efforts (as in social or business matters)

    "the movie studio is producing the blockbuster in union with another studio because of the tremendous cost involved"

    similar: affiliation, alliance, association, collaboration, confederation, connection, cooperation, hookup, liaison, linkup, partnership, relation, relationship, tie-up
    related: business, dealings, interaction, exchange, interconnection, interrelation, mutualism, reciprocity, symbiosis, incorporation, integration, merger, unification, affinity, attachment, closeness, intimacy, rapport, sympathy, kinship, oneness, solidarity, togetherness, unity, colleagueship, companionship, company, fellowship, bed, cahoots, league
    opposite: disaffiliation, dissociation
    near: breakup, dissolution, disunion, division, parting, separation, severance, split, alienation, divorce, estrangement

Related Entry: Sum total (noun)

Sum total is a different word from Sum. The synonyms below are for sum total, not for sum.

  1. a complete amount of something

    "in this case the sum total of physical evidence that a crime has been committed wouldn't fill a thimble"

    similar: aggregate, full, sum, summation, total, totality, whole, grand total, the whole bit, the whole kit and caboodle, the whole nine yards, the whole shebang
    related: gross, completeness, comprehensiveness, cumulativeness, entirety, bulk, lion's share, mass, enchilada, schmear
    near: net

Related Entry: Sum-up (noun)

Sum-up is a different word from Sum. The synonyms below are for sum-up, not for sum.

  1. a short statement of the main points

    "a sum-up of the main themes of the Romantic movement"

    similar: abstract, breviary, brief, capsule, conspectus, digest, encapsulation, epitome, inventory, outline, précis, recap, recapitulation, résumé, roundup, run-through, rundown, sum, summa, summarization, summary, summing-up, synopsis, wrap-up
    related: abbreviation, abridgment, compend, compendium, condensation, curtailment, shortening, simplification, streamlining, rehash, reprise, conclusion, epilogue
    near: amplification, enlargement, expansion, addendum, supplement

Related Entry: Sum up (verb)

Sum up is a different word from Sum. The synonyms below are for sum up, not for sum.

  1. to make into a short statement of the main points (as of a report)

    "in summing up the evidence against the defendant, the district attorney presented fact after damning fact"

    similar: abstract, boil down, brief, digest, encapsulate, epitomize, outline, recap, recapitulate, reprise, summarize, synopsize, wrap up
    related: abridge, condense, curtail, cut back, shorten, downsize, shrink, concentrate, consolidate, decoct, essentialize, simplify, streamline
    near: elongate, extend, lengthen, prolong, protract, amplify, elaborate (on or upon), enlarge (on or upon), expand, supplement

Related Entry: Sum and substance (phrase)

Sum and substance is a different word from Sum. The synonyms below are for sum and substance, not for sum.

  1. the central part or aspect of something under consideration

    "Realism was the sum and substance of his work."

    similar: bottom line, bull's-eye, centerpiece, core, crux, essence, gist, heart, kernel, keynote, meat, meat and potatoes, net, nub, nubbin, nucleus, pith, pivot, point, root, sum, the long and short
    related: course, direction, drift, tenor, body, content, substance, hypothesis, proposition, purport, subject, theme, thesis

Related Entry: Sum totals (noun)

Sum totals is a different word from Sum. The synonyms below are for sum totals, not for sum.

  1. a complete amount of something

    "in this case the sum total of physical evidence that a crime has been committed wouldn't fill a thimble"

    similar: aggregates, fulls, summations, sums, totalities, totals, wholes, grand totals, the whole bit, the whole kit and caboodle, the whole nine yards, the whole shebang
    related: grosses, entireties, bulks, masses, enchiladas, schmears
    near: nets

Related Entry: Sum-ups (noun)

Sum-ups is a different word from Sum. The synonyms below are for sum-ups, not for sum.

  1. a short statement of the main points

    "a sum-up of the main themes of the Romantic movement"

    similar: abstracts, breviaries, briefs, capsules, conspectuses, digests, encapsulations, epitomes, inventories, outlines, précis, recapitulations, recaps, résumés, roundups, rundowns, run-throughs, summae, summaries, summarizations, summings-up, sums, synopses, wrap-ups
    related: abbreviations, abridgments, compendiums, compends, condensations, curtailments, shortenings, simplifications, rehashes, reprises, conclusions, epilogues
    near: amplifications, enlargements, expansions, addenda, supplements

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Sum

The most common words with a similar meaning to Sum:

aggregate, full, sum total, summation, total, totality, whole, abstract, breviary, brief, capsule, conspectus, digest, encapsulation, epitome, inventory, outline, précis, recap, recapitulation, résumé, roundup, run-through, rundown, sum-up, summa, summarization, summary, summing-up, synopsis, wrap-up, acme, apex, apogee, capstone, climax, crescendo, crest, crown, culmination

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Sum

Words with the opposite meaning of Sum:

bottom, nadir, rock bottom

Related Words for Sum

gross, completeness, comprehensiveness, cumulativeness, entirety, bulk, lion's share, mass, enchilada, schmear, abbreviation, abridgment, compend, compendium, condensation, curtailment, shortening, simplification, streamlining, rehash, reprise, conclusion, epilogue, bloom, blossom, flood tide, flower, glory, heyday, prime

Near Antonyms of Sum

net, amplification, enlargement, expansion, addendum, supplement, abyss, base, foot, minimum

Word Forms of Sum

Inflections: summed, summing, sums

Derived words: summability (noun), summable (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Sum

Middle English summe, from Anglo-French sume, somme, from Latin summa, from feminine of summus highest; akin to Latin super over over

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Sum

Words & Phrases Containing Sum

sum total, sum-up, sum up, sum and substance, dim sum, direct sum, in sum

Frequently Asked Questions about Sum

What does "Sum" mean?

"Sum" means an indefinite or specified amount of money. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: an indefinite or specified amount of money. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Sum"?

Other words for "Sum" include aggregate, full, sum total, summation, total, totality, whole and abstract. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Sum" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Sum"?

There are 157 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Sum". Common alternatives include aggregate, full, sum total, summation, total, totality, whole, abstract, breviary and brief.

What is the opposite of "Sum"?

Antonyms of "Sum" include bottom, nadir and rock bottom. Near antonyms include net, amplification, enlargement and expansion.

How do you use "Sum" in a sentence?

Examples of "Sum" in a sentence: "the sum of human knowledge on that subject"; "the district attorney delivered a sum of the evidence against the accused that was simply staggering"; "he declared that he had reached the sum of joy when his newborn daughter was laid in his arms".

Is "Sum" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Sum" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Sum" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Sum" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Sum"?

"Sum" is pronounced /ˈsəm/.