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add

added; adding; adds

When you add, you join two or more things together. If you add on to your summer cottage, you build an extra room that's connected to your existing house.

If your boss adds ten dollars to your paycheck, she gives you the money in addition to, or on top of, your salary. And when you add a column of numbers, you combine each one in the list until you get a final answer. You might verbally add something by making one last statement: "I'd like to add that I can't wait to visit again!" The Latin root is addere, "add to, join, or attach."

Definitions of add
  1. verb
    make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
    “We added two students to that dorm room”
    “She added a personal note to her letter”
    Add insult to injury”
    Add some extra plates to the dinner table”
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    Antonyms:
    take away, take out
    take out or remove
    types:
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    modify, qualify
    add a modifier to a constituent
    gild the lily, paint the lily
    make unnecessary additions to what is already complete
    adjoin
    attach or add
    work in
    add by mixing or blending on or attaching
    add on
    make an addition
    include
    add as part of something else; put in as part of a set, group, or category
    mix, mix in
    add as an additional element or part
    put on
    add to something existing
    butylate
    introduce the butyl group into a chemical compound
    put on
    add to the odometer
    inject
    to introduce (a new aspect or element)
    welt
    put a welt on
    intercalate
    insert (days) in a calendar
    mark, punctuate
    insert punctuation marks into
    concatenate
    add by linking or joining so as to form a chain or series
    string, string up
    add as if on a string
    combine, compound
    put or add together
    milk
    add milk to
    fortify
    add nutrients to
    stud
    provide with or construct with studs
    button
    provide with buttons
    enrich
    make wealthy or richer
    supplement
    add as a supplement to what seems insufficient
    dash
    add an enlivening or altering element to
    totalise, totalize
    make into a total
    recombine
    to combine or put together again
    mix
    combine (electronic signals)
    synthesise, synthesize
    combine so as to form a more complex, product
    quote
    put quote marks around
    feather one's nest
    enrich oneself by taking advantage of one's position
    vitaminise, vitaminize
    add vitamins as a supplement
    eke out, fill out
    supplement what is thought to be deficient
    leverage
    supplement with leverage
    type of:
    increase
    become bigger or greater in amount
  2. verb
    make an addition by combining numbers
    Add 27 and 49, please!”
    synonyms: add together
    add together, add up, sum, sum up, summate, tally, tot, tot up, total, tote up
    determine the sum of
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    Antonyms:
    deduct, subtract, take off
    make a subtraction
    types:
    foot, foot up
    add a column of numbers
    type of:
    calculate, cipher, compute, cypher, figure, reckon, work out
    make a mathematical calculation or computation
  3. verb
    determine the sum of
    Add all the people in this town to those of the neighboring town”
    synonyms: add together, add up, sum, sum up, summate, tally, tot, tot up, total, tote up
    add together
    make an addition by combining numbers
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    type of:
    count, enumerate, number, numerate
    determine the number or amount of
  4. verb
    constitute an addition
    “This paper will add to her reputation”
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    type of:
    constitute, form, make
    to compose or represent:"This wall forms the background of the stage setting"
  5. verb
    bestow a quality on
    “The music added a lot to the play”
    “This adds a light note to the program”
    synonyms: bestow, bring, contribute, impart, lend
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    types:
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    factor
    be a contributing factor
    instill, transfuse
    impart gradually
    tinsel
    impart a cheap brightness to
    throw in
    add as an extra or as a gratuity
    breathe
    impart as if by breathing
    type of:
    alter, change, modify
    cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
  6. verb
    state or say further
    synonyms: append, supply
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    types:
    insert, slip in, sneak in, stick in
    insert casually
    toss in
    add casually to a conversation
    spatchcock
    interpolate or insert (words) into a sentence or story
    type of:
    say, state, tell
    express in words
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘add'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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