to combine (two or more numbers or quantities) by addition - (transitive) followed by to:
to increase (a number or quantity) by another number or quantity using addition - (transitive) often followed by to:
to join (something) to something else in order to increase the size, quantity, effect, or scope; unite (with): to add insult to injury - (intransitive) followed by to:
to have an extra and increased effect (on) - (transitive)
to say or write further - (transitive) followed by in:
to include
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
add /æd/USA pronunciation
v.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- to unite or join so as to bring about an increase:[~ + object + to + object]We added a few more students to the class.
- Mathematics to find the sum of:[~ + object]We added the four numbers together.
- to perform arithmetic addition:[no object]She could add almost as fast as a calculator.
- [~ + (that) clause] to say or write further: I'd like to add that I'm pleased to be here tonight.
- to be an addition:[~ + to + object]His illness added to the family's troubles.
- Idioms add up,
- to amount to the correct total: [no object]These figures don't add up right.[~ + up + object]Add up the numbers.[ ~ + obj + up]:Add the numbers up.
- [no obj] to seem reasonable or consistent:The facts in that mystery just didn't add up.
- add up to, [ ~ + up + to + obj] to amount to:His ideas didn't add up to anything important.
add
(ad),USA pronunciation v.t.
v.i.
n.
add′a•ble, add′i•ble, adj.
add′ed•ly, adv.
ADD,
- to unite or join so as to increase the number, quantity, size, or importance:to add two cups of sugar;to add a postscript to her letter;to add insult to injury.
- Mathematicsto find the sum of (often fol. by up):Add this column of figures. Add up the grocery bills.
- to say or write further.
- to include (usually fol. by in):Don't forget to add in the tip.
v.i.
- Mathematicsto perform the arithmetic operation of addition:children learning to add and subtract.
- to be or serve as an addition (usually fol. by to):His illness added to the family's troubles.
- add up:
- to make the desired, expected, or correct total:These figures don't add up right.
- to seem reasonable or consistent;
be in harmony or accord:Some aspects of the story didn't add up.
- add up to, to signify;
indicate:The evidence adds up to a case of murder.
n.
- Journalismcopy added to a completed story.
- Latin addere, equivalent. to ad- ad- + -dere to put (combining form; see do1)
- Middle English adden 1325–75
add′ed•ly, adv.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged affix, append, attach, adjoin.
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged total, sum.
ADD,
- Psychologyattention deficit disorder.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
attention deficit disorder
'add to' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
acquire
- admix
- aggregate
- amend
- beef
- bolster
- booster
- borrow
- cast
- chain letter
- complement
- compound
- declare
- edit
- eke
- eke out
- elevate
- enlarge
- extend
- hop
- increase
- lance
- learn
- load
- pad
- situation
- stochastic
- subjoin
- superimpose
- supplement
- sweeten
- write