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add Listen to audio/ˈæd/ verb
adds; add·ed; add·ing
1 [+ obj] a : to put (something) with another thing or group of things
She's planning to add some new flowers to the garden. The company is adding over 200 jobs this year. This winter, he added skiing to his list of favorite sports.
b : to mix or combine (an ingredient) with other ingredients
Add (in) a little more salt and pepper. I added (in) just a dash/pinch of flour. Add one cup of sugar to the mixture. Next, add the remaining butter to the pan.
c : to include (something) with something else
It took us four hours to get there, if you add (in) the time we stopped to eat.
2 [+ obj] : to cause something to have (a usually good quality or characteristic)
In this dish, fresh herbs add lots of color and flavor. As an employee, she will add [=bring] great value to your company. We can help you add excitement to your vacation. The historical details add depth/richness/weight to his story. She adds a certain amount of experience and authority to the project.
3 : to put (two or more numbers or amounts) together to find a total or sum [+ obj] When you add three and/to seven, you get ten. Add these three numbers together. [no obj] schoolchildren learning how to add [=to perform addition] and subtractopposite subtract
4 [+ obj] : to say or write (something more or extra)
That's all I have to say. Do you have anything (else/more) to add? = Is there anything (else/more) you would like to add? They all went to the bar, he said. But I didn't go with them, he quickly added. He was quick to add that he didn't go with them. = He hastened to add that he didn't go with them. It was a long project and, I might add, an expensive one.
add insult to injurysee 2insult
add on [phrasal verb]
add (something) on or add on (something) : to put (something) with another thing or group of things
We're going to add on a new garage.often + to We're adding a new garage on to our house. They're adding $200 on to what we already have to pay. The phrase add on to is also written as add onto.
We're adding a new garage onto our house.
add to [phrasal verb]
add to (something) : to make (something) larger, better, or greater
He bought another rare coin to add to his collection. Her research has greatly added to our knowledge of the subject. She's been able to add to her savings [=to save more money] this year. This movie will add to his fame. [=it will make him more famous] The loud music added to the confusion. [=it made the confusion greater] We hope this adds to your enjoyment of the play. The funny characters really add to the story. [=they make the story better] Phrases like add to this/that and added to this/that are often used informally to introduce a statement about something that makes a thing or situation better, worse, more important, etc.
We were given little time to finish. Add to this the fact that nobody helped us, and you can understand why we were angry. We were short of money. Added to that, we were lost!
add up [phrasal verb]
1 a : to be added together and equal the expected or correct total — usually used in negative constructions The numbers just don't add up. [=they don't equal the expected total]
b : to make sense : to seem to be logical or true
They must be lying; their story just doesn't add up.
c : to slowly increase and become a large number or amount
A cup of coffee may only cost a dollar, but those dollars add up quickly. I'm saving a little money each month. Eventually it'll add up. The hours that I spend traveling to work really add up.
2 add (something) up or add up (something) : to put together or count (the number or amount of something) to find the total
Start by adding up how much money you have, and then add up your costs. Let's add up all of the money we saved. When you add it all up, he's spent over half of his life in jail.
3 add up to (something) a : to have (a number) as a total
The amount of money she spends on coffee adds up to $2.75 a day. That adds up to more than a thousand dollars a year.
b : to produce (a specified result)
These plans should add up to a very exciting vacation. With these three bands playing together, it all adds up to one of the year's best rock concerts. All of the team's hard work didn't add up to a win.
— added adjective
The historical details provide added [=additional] depth/richness/weight to his story. added value an added attraction/advantage

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