Sum up Definition and Meaning
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Published on September 29, 2025
"Sum up" is a phrasal verb meaning to give a concise summary or final total of something. e.g., She likes to sum up the meeting’s key points at the end.
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Sum up Definitions
To provide a brief and comprehensive overview.
He summed up the lecture for students who arrived late.
To give a synopsis or essence of a detailed story or report.
The journalist summed up the complex issue in a few sentences.
To tally up scores or results.
At the end of the game, the referee summed up the points.
To conclude or finalize details.
Let's sum up our discussion and make a decision.
To recap the main points at the end of a session.
The moderator summed up the debate effectively.
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To epitomize or represent something in a condensed form.
His speech summed up the sentiments of many.
To encapsulate opinions or reactions.
The review summed up the audience's disappointment.
To calculate a total amount.
After dinner, we summed up the bill and split it.
To express the main points succinctly.
She summed up her argument in just one minute.
A summary.
To determine the outcome based on previous discussion or evidence.
The jury summed up the case before delivering the verdict.
Sum up Snonyms
Recap
To restate the main points of something briefly.
At the end of the show, the host recapped the highlights.
Conclude
To bring something to an end with a final summary.
The teacher concluded the lesson with a brief review.
Summarize
To express the essential aspects of something briefly.
Please summarize the chapter in a paragraph.
Review
To look over or examine again.
Let's review the main points before the test.
Outline
To describe the main features or general principles of something.
The lecturer outlined the course's key topics.
Total
To calculate the complete amount of something.
He totaled the expenses for the trip.
Encapsulate
To express something concisely; capture the essence.
Her statement encapsulated the team's objectives.
Synopsize
To provide a brief summary or version.
The editor synopsized the long article for the daily newsletter.
Reiterate
To say something again or a number of times, typically for emphasis or clarity.
He reiterated his main point to ensure everyone understood.
Wrap up
To bring something to a conclusion in a compact way.
She wrapped up her presentation with a quick summary.
Sum up Idioms & Phrases
Let me sum up
A phrase used to indicate the beginning of a summary.
Let me sum up what we've discussed so far.
Sum up your thoughts
To articulate your final thoughts succinctly.
Can you sum up your thoughts in a few sentences?
Hard to sum up
Difficult to describe succinctly.
The beauty of the sunset was hard to sum up.
Struggle to sum up
Having difficulty in summarizing something.
He struggled to sum up his emotions about the journey.
Quick to sum up
Fast in providing a summary or conclusion.
She was quick to sum up the flaws in the argument.
Sum up the situation
To describe or assess a situation concisely.
He summed up the situation as a temporary setback.
Aim to sum up
Intend to provide a summary.
We aim to sum up the benefits of this approach during our presentation.
Sum up the chapter
To provide a summary of a specific section or part.
Could you sum up the chapter for those who haven't read it yet?
Sum up in a nutshell
To summarize very briefly.
To put it in a nutshell, we're out of time and options.
Final sum up
The ultimate summarization at the end of a process.
The final sum up will be given by the project leader tomorrow.
Sum up the evidence
To review and conclude from the given data or facts.
The scientist summed up the evidence in his final report.
Begin to sum up
Start providing a summary.
As we begin to sum up, please focus on the key points.
Eager to sum up
Keen to provide a conclusion or summary.
She was eager to sum up and move on to the next topic.
Sum up in a sentence
To condense information into a single sentence.
Can you sum up your proposal in a sentence?
Sum up Example Sentences
He asked her to sum up the story she had read.
Teachers often sum up the lesson before the class ends.
It's helpful to sum up your research findings in the conclusion.
She was able to sum up the argument very clearly.
Can you sum up what happened at the meeting?
He tried to sum up his feelings, but it was complicated.
She will sum up the results of the survey in her report.
Sum up your ideas in a paragraph for the proposal.
It's important to sum up your experiences in your resume.
Let's sum up our project goals in a few bullet points.
It's crucial to sum up the legal document for clarity.
Common Curiosities
What is a stressed syllable in sum up?
In "sum up", the stress is on the first syllable: SUM-up.
What is the root word of sum up?
The root word of "sum up" is "sum."
How do we divide sum up into syllables?
Sum up is divided as: sum-up.
How is sum up used in a sentence?
"Sum up" is used as a verb to indicate the action of concluding or summarizing information.
How many syllables are in sum up?
Sum up has two syllables.
What is the verb form of sum up?
"Sum up" is itself a verb phrase in its base form.
What is the second form of sum up?
The second form of "sum up" is "summed up."
What is another term for sum up?
Another term for "sum up" is "summarize."
What is the pronunciation of sum up?
Sum up is pronounced /ˈsʌm ʌp/.
Why is it called sum up?
Sum up is called so because it combines the concept of summarizing (sum) and completing (up), indicating a final, concise statement.
What part of speech is sum up?
"Sum up" is a phrasal verb.
What is the singular form of sum up?
"Sum up" does not have a singular or plural form as it is a verb phrase.
Is sum up a noun or adjective?
"Sum up" is neither a noun nor an adjective; it is a verb.
Is sum up an adverb?
No, "sum up" is not an adverb.
What is the first form of sum up?
The first form of "sum up" is "sum up."
Is the word “sum up” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Sum up" is a verb and does not serve as a direct or indirect object.
What is the opposite of sum up?
The opposite of "sum up" could be "elaborate" or "expand."
Is sum up an abstract noun?
"Sum up" is not a noun; it is a verb phrase.
Is sum up a negative or positive word?
"Sum up" is neutral; it is neither inherently negative nor positive.
Is the sum up term a metaphor?
No, "sum up" is not typically used as a metaphor.
Is the word sum up a Gerund?
No, "sum up" is not a gerund.
Which preposition is used with sum up?
Common prepositions used with "sum up" include "in" and "as."
Which article is used with sum up?
Articles are not used with "sum up" as it is a verb phrase.
What is the third form of sum up?
The third form of "sum up" is "summed up."
Is sum up a vowel or consonant?
"Sum up" consists of both vowel and consonant sounds.
Is sum up a countable noun?
"Sum up" is not a noun, so it is neither countable nor uncountable.
Is sum up a collective noun?
"Sum up" is not a noun; it is a verb phrase.
Which conjunction is used with sum up?
Conjunctions like "and" or "but" can be used with "sum up" to connect clauses.
What is the plural form of sum up?
"Sum up" does not have a plural form.
Is the word sum up imperative?
"Sum up" can be used in an imperative form, e.g., "Please sum up the discussion."
Which determiner is used with sum up?
Determiners are not typically used with the verb phrase "sum up."
Which vowel is used before sum up?
Vowels are not specifically used before "sum up"; it depends on the context.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
