1
: an indefinite or specified amount of money
2
: the whole amount : aggregate
3
: the utmost degree : summit
reached the sum of human happiness
4
5
a(1)
: the result of adding numbers
the sum of 5 and 7 is 12
(2)
: the limit of the sum of the first n terms of an infinite series as n increases indefinitely
b
: numbers to be added
broadly
: a problem in arithmetic
c(1)
(2)
Examples of sum in a Sentence
Noun (1)
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
the sum of the issue is: who will pay for this?
Verb
can sum figures in his head faster than I can punch them into a calculator
Recent Examples on the Web
Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
There were plausible reasons to sell senior players Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Jarell Quansah and Caoimhin Kelleher — given the sums that were offered, or the fact that the players themselves were pushing for moves — but none had to be sold.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Cats are notoriously mischievous—but there's a reason so many people have them anyway, and one man summed it up in a viral TikTok video.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sum
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
That was the sum that would buy him freedom to pursue policy work.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
There were plausible reasons to sell senior players Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Jarell Quansah and Caoimhin Kelleher — given the sums that were offered, or the fact that the players themselves were pushing for moves — but none had to be sold.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
Perhaps Counsell summed it up best.
—Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Cats are notoriously mischievous—but there's a reason so many people have them anyway, and one man summed it up in a viral TikTok video.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sum
Cite this Entry
“Sum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sum. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sum
1 of 2 noun1
: an indefinite or specified amount of money
2
: the whole amount
the sum of your experience
3
a
: a summary of the chief points or thoughts
b
: the main point
the sum and substance of an argument
4
a
: the result of adding numbers
the sum of 5 and 7 is 12
b
: a problem in arithmetic
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share