Sum Definition & Meaning

sum
noun
  1. a quantity of money; "he borrowed a large sum"; "the amount he had in cash was insufficient"
  2. a quantity obtained by the addition of a group of numbers
  3. the final aggregate; "the sum of all our troubles did not equal the misery they suffered"
  4. the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience; "the gist of the prosecutor's argument"; "the heart and soul of the Republican Party"; "the nub of the story"
  5. the whole amount
  6. a set containing all and only the members of two or more given sets; "let C be the union of the sets A and B"
verb
  1. be a summary of; "The abstract summarizes the main ideas in the paper"
  2. determine the sum of; "Add all the people in this town to those of the neighboring town"

Synonyms for sum

add noun

a condition (mostly in boys) characterized by behavioral and learning disorders make an addition (to)

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aggregate adj

formed of separate units gathered into a mass or whole

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amount noun

a quantity of money; "he borrowed a large sum

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center adj

equally distant from the extremes of or belonging to neither the right nor the left politically or intellectually an

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core noun

a small group of indispensable persons or things

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essence noun

the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience; "the gist of the prosecutor's argument

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gist noun

the central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some

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heart noun

the locus of feelings and intuitions; "in your heart you know it is true

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inwardness noun

the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience; "the gist of the prosecutor's argument

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join noun

the shape or manner in which things come together and a connection is made a set containing all and only the members of

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"Sum" in song lyrics

See how sum is used in real songs:

  • "Now I gotta move some, and give you a new sum"
    Aceyalone & RJD2 — All for U
  • "5 o'clock with the ten-penny sum"
    Aesop Rock f/ Pfac — Cook it Up
  • "Even the odds divide come up with the sum"
    Arsonists — Rhyme Time Travel

Words that rhyme with sum

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Usage tips for "sum"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "sum" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for sum to find words that pair well.

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♫ Rhymes with sum ↔ Synonyms for sum 🔬 Words containing sum

Frequently asked questions

What does sum mean?
a quantity of money; "he borrowed a large sum"; "the amount he had in cash was insufficient" a quantity obtained by the addition of a group of numbers the final aggregate; "the sum of all our troubles did not equal the misery they suffered" the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience; "the gist of the prosecutor's argument"; "the heart and soul of the Republican Party
What part of speech is sum?
Sum is a noun and a verb.
How many definitions does sum have?
Sum has 8 definitions across 2 parts of speech (noun, verb).

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