1
as in total
a complete amount of something
the sum of human knowledge on that subject
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in summary
a short statement of the main points
the district attorney delivered a sum of the evidence against the accused that was simply staggering
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in height
the highest part or point
he declared that he had reached the sum of joy when his newborn daughter was laid in his arms
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in essence
the central part or aspect of something under consideration
the sum of the issue is: who will pay for this?
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to add
to combine (numbers) into a single sum
can sum figures in his head faster than I can punch them into a calculator
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sum
Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
The Most Valuable Vinyl Records The most valuable records of all time have sold at auction for unbelievable sums of money.
—Lauren Wellbank, Martha Stewart, 9 Jan. 2026
Bekah Waalkes, The Atlantic, 25 Sep. 2025
Still, according to the investigative media outlet Mongabay, Petroperú has accumulated nearly $100 million in penalties for environmental damage across the country — sums the highly indebted state-company is not likely to be able to pay in the foreseeable future.
—Sabrina Weiss, The Dial, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sum
Noun
That sum is the amounts received by interactive sports wagering operators from sports wagers as authorized under state law, less the amounts paid as winnings before any deductions for expenses, fees, or taxes.
—Verb
Lockwood, for one, refuses to sum her story up neatly.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for sum
Noun
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Since the start of the season, Arsenal have played 17 matches in total, winning 14, drawing twice, and losing just once, by an aggregate score of 35-5.—
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To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Align franchise, Lululemon hosted a 5,000-person yoga event at Beijing’s Worker’s Stadium, followed by local events across 43 cities within the next month, hosting a total of over 10,000 participants.—
Noun
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Structure information summary Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are highly resistant to earthquake shaking, though some vulnerable structures exist.—
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The Sill reports that appointments with their human plant specialists have increased 30% as people tire of advice from chatbot service agents, influencers, and AI summaries.—
Noun
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Cast members are chosen for pieces, most importantly, based on height and body dimensions.—
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The building will be built into a 40-foot hill, so the height will vary but reaches about 109 feet, or eight stories, on one end.—
Noun
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In this poetry collection, Vilariño strips poetry to its essence—distilling love, loss, and the inexorable passage of time into spare yet searing verses.—
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Stripped to their symbolic essence, the erotics of Frankenstein are about the body as meat, electrified by carnal pleasure and unencumbered by the soul.—
Verb
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The warmth of these paint colors counteracts the cool light in north-facing rooms, adds depth and character, and makes the otherwise cool spaces feel inviting.—
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Aldo Chelsey Pumps Last but not least the D’Orsay silhouette and 3-inch heel on the Aldo Chelsey Pumps add extra allure and drama to an already sophisticated shoe.—
Noun
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While totality will last just over two minutes at its maximum, the low position of the eclipsed sun — particularly in Spain — will offer some dramatic photographic opportunities.—
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By contrast, the total solar eclipse in 2027 will offer a whopping 6 1/2 minutes of totality and pass over more countries.—
Noun
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Our destination was a cluster of coral pinnacles called Rib Reef, on the Great Barrier Reef’s outer edge.—
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For nearly a century, the Oscars stood as a gleaming cathedral to Hollywood prestige, the pinnacle of artistic achievement.—
Noun
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No one could trace the secret roots of Skinny Pedro’s devotion to the world of machines.—
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Short-term fixes alone are unlikely to address the root causes of affordability and, if misguided, could even prove counterproductive.—
Cite this Entry
“Sum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sum. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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