Phrasal verb
sum sth up
Definition
phrasal verb. to give a short description that includes the main points of something.
phrasal verb. to present a concise summary of the principal aspects or arguments of a discourse or situation.
Examples
“He sums up the main points at the end of every meeting.”
“The final chapter of the book sums up the author's research on climate change perfectly.”
“The defense attorney's closing statement effectively summed up the inconsistencies in the witness's testimony, leaving the jury with significant doubt.”
Examples
simple
“He sums up the main points at the end of every meeting.”
contextual
“The final chapter of the book sums up the author's research on climate change perfectly.”
complex
“The defense attorney's closing statement effectively summed up the inconsistencies in the witness's testimony, leaving the jury with significant doubt.”
Usage
often used at the end of a speech, essay, or meeting to review key information.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'summarize' (more formal) and 'wrap up' (more focused on finishing the event than the content); 'sum up' is common in both academic and business contexts.
Pitfall
To sum up of the story...
To sum up the story...
the verb is transitive and takes a direct object without the preposition 'of'.
Phrasal verb
Particles
up
Separability
optional
Pattern
sum + object + up