If facts or events do not add up, they make you confused about a situation because they do not seem to be consistent. If something that someone has said or done adds up, it is reasonable and sensible.
Police said they arrested Olivia because her statements did not add up. [VERBPARTICLE]
Well, I could be wrong, but it all seems to add up. [VERBPARTICLE]
3. phrasal verb
If small amounts of something add up, they gradually increase.
Even small savings can add up. [VERBPARTICLE]
It's the little minor problems that add up. [VERBPARTICLE]
More Synonyms of add up
See full dictionary entry for add
add up in British English
verb(adverb)
1.
to find the sum (of)
2. (intransitive)
to result in a correct total
3. (intransitive) informal
to make sense
4. (intransitive; foll byto)
to amount to
add up in American English
1.
to calculate the total of
2.
to equal the expected sum
these figures don't add up
3.
to seem reasonable
his excuse just doesn't add up
See full dictionary entry for add
Examples of 'add up' in a sentence
add up
How did the numbers add up for your club in the transfer window?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Now all he is doing is adding up how long he has to serve.
The Sun (2006)
Even now most governments are assuming that people's claims collectively can be made to add up by a growing economy.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In other languages
add up
British English: add up /æd ʌp/ VERB
If you add up numbers or amounts, or if you add them up, you calculate their total.
Add up the total of those six games.
American English: add up
Arabic: يُجْمَعُ
Brazilian Portuguese: somar
Chinese: 增添
Croatian: zbrojiti
Czech: sečíst
Danish: lægge sammen
Dutch: optellen
European Spanish: sumar
Finnish: laskea yhteen
French: additionner
German: addieren
Greek: αθροίζω
Italian: sommare
Japanese: ・・・を合計する
Korean: 합계하다
Norwegian: summere
Polish: dodać sumować
European Portuguese: somar
Romanian: a însuma
Russian: складывать
Latin American Spanish: sumar
Swedish: summera
Thai: คิดผลรวม
Turkish: toplamak matematik
Ukrainian: складати
Vietnamese: tính tổng
Chinese translation of 'add up'
add up
vi
(= calculate) 做加法 (zuò jiāfǎ)
⇒ Many young children cannot add up.许多幼龄儿童不会做加法。 (Xǔduō yòulíng értóng bùhuì zuò jiāfǎ.)