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add up to meaning and examples

2025-09-09

Meaning

"Add up to" is a phrasal verb that means:

  1. To reach a total amount when numbers or quantities are combined.
  2. To have a particular result or effect; to amount to something.

Grammar and Usage

  • Structure: subject + add up to + amount/result
  • Part of speech: phrasal verb
  • Used in both literal (mathematical total) and figurative (result/consequence) contexts.
  • Can be used with numbers (literal) or with abstract nouns/ideas (figurative).

Examples of usage patterns:

  • "A + B + C add up to X."
  • "His actions add up to betrayal."

Common Phrases

  • Add up to 100 – commonly used in mathematics or budgeting.
  • Add up to nothing – to have no result or effect.
  • Add up to success/failure – to result in success/failure.

Collocations

  • Add up to a total
  • Add up to nothing
  • Add up to the same thing
  • Add up to success

Examples

  1. The bills add up to more than $500 this month.
  2. Small efforts every day can add up to big results over time.
  3. His excuses don’t add up to a reasonable explanation.
  4. All the donations add up to a large sum of money.
  5. The team’s mistakes added up to a disappointing loss.
  6. Their hard work will surely add up to success.
  7. These small changes in policy add up to a major reform.
  8. The figures add up to exactly 1,000.
  • Total
  • Amount to
  • Come to
  • Result in

Antonym

  • Subtract from
  • Diminish
  • Take away from