What is sum? Pronunciation and usage in English

sum means . Learn how to pronounce and use sum through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of sum

sumnoun

/sʌm/
Definition & pronunciation of sum

The word "sum" in English is pronounced "sum" (pronounced like "some").

It's a simple, one-syllable word with a short, quick vowel sound.

You can hear it pronounced correctly here: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/sum

Do you want to know how it's pronounced in different contexts (like in math equations)?

Usage and examples with the word sum in English

Let's break down how to use the word "sum" in English. It's a versatile word with a few different meanings and usages. Here's a detailed explanation:

1. As a Verb (to calculate):

  • Meaning: To add numbers together to find a total.
  • Examples:
    • "Please sum up the figures in the spreadsheet." (Calculate the total)
    • "Let's sum these costs to see how much we need." (Add these costs together)
    • "I need to sum 10 + 5 + 2 quickly." (Calculate the answer)

2. As a Noun (the total, the result of an addition):

  • Meaning: The result obtained by adding numbers together. It represents the total amount.
  • Examples:
    • "The sum of the apples is 25." (There are 25 apples total.)
    • "The government announced a sum of $1 billion for infrastructure projects." (A total of one billion dollars)
    • "I’m saving a sum of money for a new car." (A specific amount of money)
    • "The sum of the angles in a triangle is 180 degrees." (The total)

3. More Formal/Literary Usage (a specific amount of money):

  • Meaning: Often used when referring to a large or significant financial amount, particularly in writing. It sounds more dignified than "amount."
  • Examples:
    • "The king donated a sum to the orphanage." (A considerable donation)
    • "They received a sum of compensation for their injuries." (A significant payment)
    • "He invested a large sum of money in the company." (A large amount of money)

4. In Mathematical Formulas (sometimes used synonymously with "total"):

  • Meaning: In certain mathematical contexts, it can be used interchangeably with "total" or "product," especially when dealing with summation notation.
  • Example (Summation Notation): "∑i=1 to n ai" (This means "the sum of a1 through an"). In this case, “sum” is referring to a series of terms added together.

Key Differences & Usage Notes:

  • Verb vs. Noun: The most important thing is to recognize whether "sum" is being used as an action (verb - to add) or a thing (noun - the result).
  • Formality: Using "sum" as a noun, particularly referring to money, adds a touch of formality to your writing or speech. “Amount” is a more common and generally more neutral choice.
  • Context: Pay attention to the surrounding words to understand exactly what "sum" refers to. Is it money? A number? A mathematical series?

Here's a table summarizing the different ways to use "sum":

Part of Speech Meaning Example
Verb To add, to calculate "Sum the data in the report."
Noun The total, the result "The sum of the costs is $50."
Noun A large sum of money "He donated a sum to charity."

Do you want me to:

  • Give you more examples?
  • Explain how "sum" is used in a specific context (e.g., math, accounting, a legal document)?
  • Help you practice using "sum" in a sentence?

Synonyms for the word sum

Idioms of the word sum

be greater/more than the sum of its parts
to be better or more effective as a group than you would think just by looking at the individual members of the group
  • The team is greater than the sum of its parts.
in sum
(formal)used to introduce a short statement of the main points of a discussion, speech, etc.
  • In sum, we have no chance of winning the case.

Practice with vocabulary sum

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The financial department needed to calculate the exact _________ of all outstanding invoices before the audit.
  2. In her closing remarks, the CEO aimed to _________ up the company's achievements over the past year.
  3. The project manager requested a complete _________ of expenses incurred during the initial phase.
  4. Before reaching a decision, the committee needed to _________ the various viewpoints presented.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. The university offered a considerable _________ to researchers willing to work on the innovative climate change project. a) amount b) sum c) figure d) quantity
  2. To understand the full impact, we must consider the _________ of all contributing factors, not just individual elements. a) sum b) total c) aggregation d) collection
  3. Could you please _________ up the main conclusions of the report for the executive summary? a) articulate b) summarize c) consolidate d) sum
  4. The financial department detected an unusual _________ in the spending patterns during the last quarter. a) discrepancy b) divergence c) disparity d) anomaly
  5. The committee's final recommendation was to _________ the responsibilities among the various departments. a) allocate b) distribute c) assign d) divide

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The total amount of money they invested in the startup was quite significant.
  2. Before finalizing the budget, please calculate the total of all projected expenditures.
  3. The speaker effectively gathered the main points of the argument at the end of her talk.

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. sum
  2. sum
  3. total
  4. weigh

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. a) amount, b) sum
  2. a) sum, b) total, c) aggregation
  3. b) summarize, d) sum
  4. a) discrepancy, b) divergence, c) disparity, d) anomaly
  5. a) allocate, b) distribute, c) assign, d) divide

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. They invested a significant sum of money in the startup.
  2. Before finalizing the budget, please sum up all projected expenditures.
  3. The speaker effectively synthesized the main points of the argument at the end of her talk.

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