Sum Meaning
/sʌm/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA quantity obtained by addition or aggregation.
nounAn arithmetic computation, especially one posed to a student as an exercise (not necessarily limited to addition).
Sentence Examples
The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
Please sum up your idea.
You will be fined the sum of £200.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ of the two numbers, obtained by addition, was exactly fifty.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The total ____ of the bill was much higher than we expected because of the extra service charges today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English summe, from Old French summe, from Latin summa (“highest point; sum”), from summus (“highest”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Take yee the ſumme of all the Congregation of the children of Iſrael,[…]"
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Numbers 1:2, columns 1–2:
""Imagine a world in which every single person on the planet is given free access to the sum of all human knowledge. That's what we're doing.""
— a. 2004, Jimmy Wales, quotee, “Wikipedia:Prime objective”, in Wikipedia:
"[…] a large sheet of paper […] covered with long sums […]"
— 1849 May – 1850 November, Charles Dickens, “The Emigrants”, in The Personal History of David Copperfield, London: Bradbury & Evans, […], published 1850, →OCLC, page 572:
""I think it was a disgraceful performance from a captain that got his sums wrong today, and I think it should never be permitted to happen again.""
— 1981, Lisa Valentin, quoting Richie Benaud, “The day Richie Benaud stood up for principle over patriotism”, in Stuff, published 11 April 2015:
"[…]With a great ſumme obteined I this freedome."
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Acts 22:28, column 1:
Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ of the two numbers, obtained by addition, was exactly fifty.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The total ____ of the bill was much higher than we expected because of the extra service charges today.