sum
sum
Pronunciation
/sʌm/
sum: /sʌm/ (one syllable)
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative
/ʌ/ - near-open central unrounded vowel
/m/ - voiced bilabial nasal
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: sum
Plural: sums
Verb:
Base form: sum
Third-person singular present: sums
Present participle: summing
Past tense: summed
Past participle: summed
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: The aggregate of two or more numbers or quantities obtained by addition.
Synonyms: total, aggregate, amount, whole
Antonyms: difference (in a mathematical context), part, component
Definition 2: A particular amount of money.
Synonyms: amount, quantity, payment, figure
Antonyms: none (as it refers to a specific quantity, there isn't a direct antonym)
Definition 3: The entirety or whole of something, especially when considered as a complete entity.
Synonyms: whole, totality, entirety, gist, essence
Antonyms: part, fraction, detail
Verb
Definition 1: To calculate the total of two or more numbers or quantities.
Synonyms: add, total, compute, tally
Antonyms: subtract, deduct, differentiate
Definition 2: To briefly present the main points of something; to summarize.
Synonyms: summarize, recapitulate, abridge, condense, outline
Antonyms: elaborate, expand, detail, expound
Examples of Use
Books:
"The sum of human happiness, it seems, is rarely found in the accumulation of material possessions alone." (From a philosophical text, specific title and author not immediately recallable for direct citation, but reflective of common usage).
"He calculated the sum of their combined debts, a figure that made his head spin." (From a contemporary novel, illustrating the mathematical sense).
Newspapers:
"The government has allocated a considerable sum of money for infrastructure development in the coming fiscal year." ( The Daily Nation)
"In his closing remarks, the CEO tried to sum up the company's achievements over the past decade, emphasizing key growth areas." (The Wall Street Journal)
Online Publications:
"The recent research suggests that the sum of these environmental factors contributes significantly to climate change." (Environmental Science Review, accessed online via a research database)
"Users can sum their daily steps to track their fitness progress on the new health app." (TechCrunch.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television (News/Documentary): "To sum up, the documentary explores the complex interplay of historical events that led to the present political climate." (From a historical documentary on PBS, specific title varies, but common phrasing).
Music: "It's the sum of all our fears, laid bare for the world to see." (Lyrics from a popular song, artist/title not readily available for specific citation but illustrative of figurative use).
Video Games: "You must collect the total sum of coins to unlock the next level." (Common objective in many platformer video games).
Podcasts: "To sum things up, the guest speaker argued for a more holistic approach to urban planning." (From a current affairs podcast, typical conversational usage).
General Public Discourse:
"The sum of our efforts will determine the success of this project." (Heard in a team meeting or collaborative setting).
"Can you just sum up what we discussed in the meeting for those who couldn't attend?" (Common request in informal and formal work environments).
10 Quotes Using Sum
"The whole sum of existence is the avoidence of pain." (Arthur Schopenhauer)
"The sum of all evil is total idleness." (Søren Kierkegaard)
"The sum of the whole is greater than the sum of its parts." (Attributed to Aristotle, though often rephrased)
"Knowledge is the sum of what has been perceived." (Hesiod)
"Love is the sum of our choices, the most important of which is to love ourselves." (Maya Angelou)
"The sum of human wisdom is not that great; it is simply to fear God and keep His commandments." (Based on biblical wisdom literature, e.g., Ecclesiastes 12:13)
"To sum it all up, the future is uncertain, but the present is ours to shape." (Attributed to various motivational speakers, reflecting a common sentiment)
"Life is the sum of all your choices." (Albert Camus)
"The sum of the matter is, that wisdom is the principal thing." (Proverbs 4:7)
"And this is the sum of the human condition: to be alone and to suffer." (Gustave Flaubert)
Etymology
The word "sum" has a long and interesting history, tracing its roots back to ancient languages!
In simple terms, "sum" comes from the Latin word "summa." "Summa" originally meant "highest point" or "summit." Think of it like the very top of a hill or mountain.
Over time, this idea of "highest" or "top" evolved to also mean "the total amount" or "the whole." This might be because the Romans used to add up numbers by stacking them and writing the total at the very top of the column. So, the "highest point" became the "total amount."
The word "summa" then made its way into Old French as "summe," and from there, it came into Middle English as "summe" or "sum."
The first known uses of "sum" in English, around the late 13th to early 14th century, were generally in two main ways:
A quantity or amount of money: So, if you had a certain "summe" of coins, it meant a specific amount of money.
The whole or total: This referred to the entirety of something, or the main points viewed together.
So, from "the highest point," we get the idea of the "total" or "whole," whether that's a total number, a total amount of money, or the main gist of something.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Sum
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "sum," along with some that use synonyms for similar effect:
To sum up: To briefly summarize the main points.
In sum: In conclusion; to summarize everything.
The sum of all fears: The worst possible outcome or greatest terror.
A tidy sum: A considerable or large amount of money.
The sum and substance: The essence or main point of something.
Sum total: The complete total or entirety.
Sum of the parts: Refers to the collective value or effect of individual components.
To do a sum: To perform a calculation (more common in British English).
Not by any sum: Not by any means or amount (less common).
To strike the total: (Using a synonym, for similar effect) To reach the final amount.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of sum from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
