
A child learning to add.
- An example of add is to put more hot sauce in the chili to increase its spiceness.
- An example of add is to combine two and three to equal five.
The definition of add means to join or bring together for the purpose of increasing in number or importance or to change the effect.
add

- to join or unite (something) to something else so as to increase the quantity, number, size, etc. or change the total effect: to add a wing to the building, to add seasoning to the sauce
- to state further
- to combine (numbers) into a sum; calculate the total of
Origin of add
Middle English adden from Classical Latin addere, to add from ad-, to + dare, to give- to cause an increase; be an addition (to): this adds to my pleasure
- to find a sum by doing arithmetic
add Idioms
add up
- to calculate the total of
- to equal the expected sum: these figures don't add up
- to seem reasonable: his excuse just doesn't add up
add up to
- to reach a total of
- to mean; signify
Origin of add
Classical Latin addePharmacy let there be added; addADD
- American Dialect Dictionary
- attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder
add

verb
add·ed, add·ing, addsverb
transitive- To join or combine (numbers) through addition: If you add 5 and 10 and 17, the result is 32. If you add 6 to 8, you get 14.
- To join or unite so as to increase in size, quantity, quality, or scope: added 12 inches to the deck; flowers that added beauty to the dinner table.
- To say or write further.
verb
intransitive- To find a sum in arithmetic.
- a. To constitute an addition: an exploit that will add to her reputation.b. To create or make an addition: gradually added to my meager savings.
Origin of add
Middle English adden from Latin addere ad- ad- dare to give ; see dō- in Indo-European roots.Related Forms:
- add′a·ble add′i·ble
adjective
ADD
abbreviation
attention deficit disorder
add

Verb
(third-person singular simple present adds, present participle adding, simple past and past participle added)
- To join or unite, as one thing to another, or as several particulars, so as to increase the number, augment the quantity, or enlarge the magnitude, or so as to form into one aggregate. Hence: To sum up; to put together mentally.
- to add numbers
- To combine elements of (something) into one quantity.
- to add a column of numbers
- To give by way of increased possession (to any one); to bestow (on).
- To append, as a statement; to say further.
- (intransitive) To make an addition. To add to, to augment; to increase.
- It adds to our anxiety.
- (intransitive, mathematics) To perform the arithmetical operation of addition.
- He adds rapidly.
Usage notes
- We add by bringing things together so as to form a whole.
- We join by putting one thing to another in close or continuous connection.
- We annex by attaching some adjunct to a larger body.
- We unite by bringing things together so that their parts adhere or intermingle.
- Things coalesce by coming together or mingling so as to form one organization.
- To add quantities; to join houses; to annex territory; to unite kingdoms; to make parties coalesce
Noun
(plural adds)
- (video games) An additional enemy that joined the fight after the primary target.
- After engaging the boss for one minute, two adds will arrive from the back and must be dealt with.
- (computer science) An act or instance of adding.
Initialism
Noun
- (law) Abbreviation of addendum.
Usage notes
See also: addThis is the customary abbreviation of this term as used in legal citation. See, e.g., The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, Nineteenth Edition (2010), "Subdivisions", Table T16, p. 472-73.