The difference between Add up and Total

When used as verbs, add up means to take a sum, whereas total means to add up.


Total is also noun with the meaning: an amount obtained by the addition of smaller amounts.

Total is also adjective with the meaning: entire.

check bellow for the other definitions of Add up and Total

  1. Add up as a verb (transitive):

    To take a sum.

    Examples:

    "usex Add up the prices and find out how much it will cost."

  2. Add up as a verb (intransitive):

    To accumulate; to amount to.

    Examples:

    "usex If you can save even a couple of dollars per day, it will add up to a lot over a year."

  3. Add up as a verb (idiomatic, intransitive):

    To make sense; to be reasonable or consistent.

    Examples:

    "usex His story just doesn't add up. Why would he have been at the restaurant the day before the event?"

  1. Total as a noun:

    An amount obtained by the addition of smaller amounts.

    Examples:

    "A total of £145 was raised by the bring-and-buy stall."

  2. Total as a noun (informal, mathematics):

    Sum.

    Examples:

    "The total of 4, 5 and 6 is 15."

  1. Total as an adjective:

    Entire; relating to the whole of something.

    Examples:

    "The total book is rubbish from start to finish.  nowrap The total [[number]] of votes cast is 3,270."

  2. Total as an adjective:

    () Complete; absolute.

    Examples:

    "He is a total failure."

  1. Total as a verb (transitive):

    To add up; to calculate the sum of.

    Examples:

    "When we totalled the takings, we always got a different figure."

  2. Total as a verb:

    To equal a total of; to amount to.

    Examples:

    "That totals seven times so far."

  3. Total as a verb (transitive, US, slang):

    to demolish; to wreck completely. (from total loss)

    Examples:

    "Honey, I’m OK, but I’ve totaled the car."

  4. Total as a verb (intransitive):

    To amount to; to add up to.

    Examples:

    "It totals nearly a pound."