add
verb (transitive)
UKædUSæd
to put or combine one thing with another, resulting in an increase in size, number, or amount; to further say or include something
Example Sentences
You should add the sugar slowly while stirring the mixture.
She forgot to add the updated expense figures to the budget report.
When you add the two numbers, the result is fifteen.
He decided to add another paragraph to his essay to clarify his point.
Please add all relevant contact details to the email signature so that clients can easily reach you.
You need to add at least twenty more pages to your final paper if you want to meet the professor’s minimum length requirements.
After carefully reviewing the feedback from the focus group, the design team resolved to add several user-friendly features to the new application, thus greatly improving its overall accessibility and appeal to customers.
In order to provide a comprehensive overview, the author chose to add extensive footnotes and references, ensuring that readers could trace the sources of every claim and explore the topic further at their own pace.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
Antonyms
How to Use
To combine or increase one quantity, element, or idea with another.“Add” is a verb primarily referring to putting things together—be it numbers, ingredients, or ideas—to form a sum or a greater whole. In arithmetic, you add numerical values to reach a total (e.g., 5 + 3 = 8). In daily tasks like cooking, you add ingredients to blend flavors or textures.Outside of mathematics and cooking, you might add something to a conversation, a discussion, or an essay, meaning you supplement existing thoughts with new ones. For instance, if you have a list of tasks, you may add more items as they arise, expanding your plan. In technology, you could add a new user or add a plugin to enhance software. The overarching idea is that “add” moves things from being separate to being joined or combined.When using “add” in business or everyday contexts, it highlights growth or an incremental process. You might add steps to a project timeline, add a new service to an existing product line, or add extra features to an app. If you’re teaching someone, you may say, “Add this to the list, and we’ll address it later.” The word underscores that something new is entering the scene, increasing in number, size, or scope.Phrasal verbs like “add up” convey slightly different nuances. “Add up” can mean to calculate a total: “Add up these receipts to get the monthly expense.” Or it can mean to make sense: “His story doesn’t add up.” “Add on” might mean tacking on extras, like when you offer to “add on a side dish” at a restaurant. In each scenario, the root notion of combining or growing remains. “Add” serves as a straightforward, foundational term for almost any process involving accumulation, enhancement, or expansion.
Alternatives
Depending on context, several synonyms convey the sense of increasing or combining. “Sum up” is specific to math and indicates producing a total. “Augment” can be used in more formal contexts, suggesting making something greater in size or value—“He augmented his income by freelancing.” “Enhance” leans toward improving quality, while “supplement” connotes adding to an existing base for completeness—like adding vitamins to a diet. “Append” is more technical or literary, focusing on attaching additional materials—like appending an appendix to a book. Meanwhile, “join” or “merge” can highlight fusing elements together, though they sometimes emphasize uniting in a single entity.When the goal is strictly numeric or arithmetic, “add up,” “calculate,” or “tally” might fit. For expanding ideas or discussions, “build upon,” “expand,” or “contribute” provide a sense of developing something further. And if you’re casually telling someone to throw something else into the mix—like adding items to a to-do list—common phrases such as “throw in,” “tack on,” or “chuck in” might capture an informal style. Selecting among these terms depends on whether you want to spotlight numerical addition, subtle improvements, or the broader idea of enriching an existing entity. Each alternative carries its own flavor of growth, refinement, or combination.
Writing
When writing about adding concepts, steps, or elements, clarify what is being added and why. For instance, “We added a morning briefing to keep the team aligned,” helps readers see both the action (the addition of a briefing) and the rationale (team alignment). Including details on the outcome or benefits of adding these items can underscore the significance of the change—like “adding an extra example improved reader comprehension.”In a more formal or academic context, you might highlight the methodology or reasoning behind additions. For example, “Researchers added a control group to validate the results” shows a deliberate, methodical approach. In a narrative, you could depict a character’s perspective: “Maria decided to add more color to her sketches, hoping to capture the vibrancy of city life.” Whether you are discussing data, creative works, or strategic expansions, pairing “add” with clear motivations and outcomes helps guide the reader.Additionally, watch for repetition. Overusing “add” can make your writing feel dull or simplistic. Synonyms like “supplement,” “enrich,” “incorporate,” or “include” can keep your text varied and engaging, provided they convey the precise nuance you need. Consistency and clarity remain essential: let your readers know what specifically is being added and to what end, especially if you’re describing processes or step-by-step instructions. By showing how something shifts from an original state to a more complete or improved version, your writing underscores the constructive role of adding.
Casual Conversation
In everyday chat, “add” pops up all the time. You might say, “I need to add milk to this recipe,” or “Let’s add some tunes to our road trip playlist.” In casual conversation, it conveys the idea of increasing or completing something that’s not finished yet, whether that’s a dish, a plan, or a fun experience.Maybe your friend forgets something in a conversation, and you remark, “Wait, add this: he also said we should bring snacks.” That’s just a straightforward, off-the-cuff way to show an extra piece of info or item is needed. Likewise, if you’re reviewing finances, you could say, “We just added a few new expenses this month,” pointing to fresh costs that have popped up. In these low-key settings, “add” rarely feels too formal—rather, it’s essential for indicating small changes, new items, or more data. If you want to keep things super relaxed, you might swap it for phrases like “throw in,” “tack on,” or “stick in,” though “add” remains the simplest choice for clarity.Another angle is personal or social media usage. “Add me on Facebook” or “Add me to the group chat” signals bridging a connection. People adopt “add” for quick directives like “Add me,” integrating new contacts or participants, which fosters inclusivity or collaboration among friends, colleagues, or classmates. All in all, casual uses of “add” revolve around convenience and clarity—showing you want more substance, people, or elements included in a situation without fuss.
Etymology
The word “add” descends from the Latin “addere,” combining “ad-” (meaning “to”) and “dare” (meaning “to give”). In classical Rome, “addere” meant “to give more” or “to put to,” reflecting a direct notion of supplementing something with another piece. This concept traveled through Old French as “adder,” eventually settling into Middle English as “adden,” until it became the simpler “add” we use today.Over centuries, the idea of “adding” has held a fundamental role in language, especially as society formalized counting, mathematics, commerce, and measurement. Early algebraic works and trade documents required a consistent term to describe the operation of forming a sum. The simplicity and directness of “add” also found its way into idiomatic phrases like “add up,” indicating reaching a total or making sense of facts. This evolution from ancient Rome to modern usage underscores how integral adding has been to daily life—whether balancing ledgers, cooking, or just seeking to enhance or expand anything from conversations to software feature sets.
