Collocations for "sum"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "sum" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2026
sum
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.n
- spent a tidy sum on this [house, car, suit]
- made a tidy sum on the [scheme, project]
- set to [make, earn] a tidy sum
- That certainly is a tidy sum.
- the sum of two numbers
- the sum of [5 and 7] is [12]
- UK: is [good, useless] at doing sums
- UK: did the sum with [her fingers, a calculator]
- was the sum of [negligence and oversight, hard work and perseverance]
- a [large, small] sum of money
- [earned, made, won] a tidy sum
- get the [payment, winnings] as a lump sum
- was fined a sum of [$500]
- lend a [small] sum (to)
- have invested large sums in the [project, company]
- is the sum of his [work, efforts, knowledge]
- sum up the [performance, meeting, results, main points]
- the [performance] was summed up [by the reporter, in an article, in the newspaper]
- sum up in [a meeting, writing, a presentation]
- sum it up in (just) a few words
- sum the [totals, figures, numbers, amounts, equations]
- sum the [situation, plot] up
- sum up the [situation]
- that [pretty much, just about] sums it up
- a lump sum payment
'sum' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):