the sum of
idiom
1
: an amount of (money)
I paid the sum of $500.
2
: the result of (adding two or more numbers together)
The sum of 5 and 7 is 12
3
: all there is of : the whole amount of
Working odd summer jobs has been the sum of my experience so far.
Examples of the sum of in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In the standard Dividend Discount Model, a stock is worth the sum of future dividends, discounted for the time value of money.
—
Bill Conerly, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
There are plenty of charming details like those — yet, the thing adds up to less than the sum of its bits.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2025
Every aspect of the sandwich is perfection, adding up to something that's even greater than the sum of its parts.
—Arika Herron, Axios, 7 Apr. 2025
But Tobias is more than the sum of her mentors, with a style of cooking that is at once whimsical and integrated.
—Amiel Stanek, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the sum of
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.
Bill Conerly, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
There are plenty of charming details like those — yet, the thing adds up to less than the sum of its bits.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2025
Every aspect of the sandwich is perfection, adding up to something that's even greater than the sum of its parts.
—Arika Herron, Axios, 7 Apr. 2025
But Tobias is more than the sum of her mentors, with a style of cooking that is at once whimsical and integrated.
—Amiel Stanek, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the sum of
Cite this Entry
“The sum of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20sum%20of. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share