Here are 30 phrasal verbs with **add**, along with detailed explanations and examples:
1. **add up** – **to calculate the total of something**
**Base meaning:** “add” means “to combine numbers.”
**Extended meaning:** “up” adds the sense of calculating the sum.
• _Can you add up these receipts to see how much we spent?_ (The speaker asks for the total amount.)
• _The numbers just don’t add up in this report._ (The figures don’t make sense when totaled.)
2. **add to** – **to increase or contribute to something**
**Base meaning:** “add” means “to increase.”
**Extended meaning:** “to” adds the sense of contributing or increasing something further.
• _The new evidence adds to the strength of their argument._ (It increases the validity of their argument.)
• _His comments only added to the confusion._ (His comments increased the confusion.)
3. **add on** – **to include or attach something extra**
**Base meaning:** “add” means “to include.”
**Extended meaning:** “on” adds the sense of attaching something additional.
• _They decided to add on a sunroom to their house._ (They attached an extra room to their house.)
• _Can I add on an extra night to my hotel reservation?_ (The speaker asks to extend the reservation.)
4. **add in** – **to include something as part of a total or group**
**Base meaning:** “add” means “to include.”
**Extended meaning:** “in” adds the sense of including something within a group or set.
• _Don’t forget to add in the shipping cost._ (Include the shipping cost in the total.)
• _Add in your personal details at the end of the form._ (Include your personal information.)
5. **add up to** – **to result in a particular total or conclusion**
**Base meaning:** “add” means “to sum.”
**Extended meaning:** “up to” adds the sense of reaching a conclusion or total.
• _The expenses add up to more than we expected._ (The total is larger than anticipated.)
• _All of her actions add up to one thing: she’s not interested._ (Her behavior leads to this conclusion.)
6. **add together** – **to combine separate amounts into one total**
**Base meaning:** “add” means “to combine.”
**Extended meaning:** “together” adds the sense of joining things into a unified total.
• _If you add together all the small donations, it makes a big difference._ (All the small donations combine into a large amount.)
• _Add together the numbers from both columns to get the final total._ (Combine the numbers from both columns.)
7. **add up for** – **to provide a logical explanation or reason**
**Base meaning:** “add” means “to calculate.”
**Extended meaning:** “up for” adds the sense of making sense or being justified.
• _His story just doesn’t add up for me._ (His story doesn’t make sense.)
• _It doesn’t add up for her to leave the company so suddenly._ (There’s no logical reason for her leaving.)
8. **add back** – **to include something again after it was removed**
**Base meaning:** “add” means “to include.”
**Extended meaning:** “back” adds the sense of restoring something to a previous state.
• _You should add back the deleted section to the report._ (Re-include the part that was removed.)
• _They decided to add back the original features after customer complaints._ (They restored the original features.)
9. **add into** – **to incorporate something into a process or system**
**Base meaning:** “add” means “to include.”
**Extended meaning:** “into” adds the sense of integrating something into a whole.
• _You need to add this ingredient into the mixture slowly._ (Incorporate it into the mixture.)
• _The new software was added into the existing system._ (It was integrated into the system.)
10. **add onto** – **to extend something by including more of it**
**Base meaning:** “add” means “to extend.”
**Extended meaning:** “onto” adds the sense of attaching more to what already exists.
• _They added onto the house by building a second story._ (They extended the house.)
• _Can we add onto this project by including more data?_ (The speaker asks to expand the project.)
11. **add up over time** – **to gradually increase or accumulate**
**Base meaning:** “add” means “to accumulate.”
**Extended meaning:** “up over time” adds the sense of increasing gradually.
• _Small savings can add up over time._ (The savings grow gradually.)
• _The little things you do for people add up over time._ (The small actions accumulate in significance.)
12. **add weight to** – **to provide more support or credibility to something**
**Base meaning:** “add” means “to enhance.”
**Extended meaning:** “weight to” adds the sense of increasing importance or support.
• _The expert testimony added weight to the case._ (It gave more credibility to the case.)
• _This new evidence adds weight to the argument._ (The new evidence supports the argument.)
13. **add fuel to the fire** – **to make a bad situation worse**
**Base meaning:** “add” means “to contribute.”
**Extended meaning:** “fuel to the fire” adds the sense of intensifying an already negative situation.
• _His angry response just added fuel to the fire._ (It made the situation worse.)
• _Don’t add fuel to the fire by arguing more._ (The speaker advises against making the situation worse.)
14. **add up with** – **to correspond or make sense with other information**
**Base meaning:** “add” means “to align.”
**Extended meaning:** “up with” adds the sense of corresponding with something.
• _His story doesn’t add up with what we know._ (It doesn’t align with the facts.)
• _The timeline doesn’t add up with the witness’s account._ (The details don’t match.)
15. **add to the mix** – **to include something additional in a situation**
**Base meaning:** “add” means “to include.”
**Extended meaning:** “to the mix” adds the sense of contributing something new.
• _Adding his ideas to the mix improved the project._ (Including his ideas made the project better.)
• _Let’s add more data to the mix before making a decision._ (Include more information before deciding.)
16. **add up for someone** – **to make sense or be logical from someone’s perspective**
**Base meaning:** “add” means “to calculate or reason.”
**Extended meaning:** “up for someone” adds the sense of making sense for a particular person.
• _It just doesn’t add up for me why he left so suddenly._ (The situation doesn’t make sense to me.)
• _Her explanation doesn’t add up for the team._ (It doesn’t make sense to the team.)
17. **add up against** – **to count or measure something in comparison to another**
**Base meaning:** “add” means “to calculate.”
**Extended meaning:** “up against” adds the sense of comparing results.
• _How do his achievements add up against others in the industry?_ (How do his achievements compare?)
• _Her qualifications add up well against the competition._ (Her qualifications are comparable.)
18. **add up after** – **to calculate or determine the result after something occurs**
**Base meaning:** “add” means “to calculate.”
**Extended meaning:** “up after” adds the sense of totaling something post-event.
• _We can add up the final cost after the project is complete._ (Calculate the total cost afterward.)
• _Let’s add up the scores after the game._ (We will calculate the scores when the game is finished.)
19. **add up before** – **to calculate or prepare a total in advance**
**Base meaning:** “add” means “to calculate.”
**Extended meaning:** “up before” adds the sense of preparing a total beforehand.
• _Can you add up the expenses before we finalize the budget?_ (Calculate the total expenses in advance.)
• _Make sure to add up all the costs before submitting the proposal._ (Ensure the total is calculated before submission.)
20. **add to that** – **to contribute additional information or context to what has already been stated**
**Base meaning:** “add” means “to include more.”
**Extended meaning:** “to that” adds the sense of supplementing an existing statement.
• _I’d like to add to that by mentioning another important factor._ (The speaker contributes more information.)
• _Can I add to that by giving some examples?_ (The speaker asks to supplement with examples.)
21. **add up figures** – **to calculate or total numbers**
**Base meaning:** “add” means “to calculate.”
**Extended meaning:** “up figures” adds the sense of totaling numerical data.
• _I spent the afternoon adding up the figures for the quarterly report._ (The speaker totaled the financial data.)
• _Let’s add up the figures to make sure everything balances._ (Check
the total of the numbers.)
22. **add zest to** – **to bring energy, excitement, or flavor to something**
**Base meaning:** “add” means “to enhance.”
**Extended meaning:** “zest to” adds the sense of energizing or adding excitement.
• _Her enthusiasm really added zest to the presentation._ (Her energy made the presentation more exciting.)
• _Let’s add some spice to the recipe to add zest to the flavor._ (Enhance the flavor with spice.)
23. **add in bulk** – **to include something in large quantities**
**Base meaning:** “add” means “to include.”
**Extended meaning:** “in bulk” adds the sense of adding a large amount.
• _We’ll add in bulk ingredients to reduce costs._ (We will include large quantities.)
• _You should add in bulk discounts to attract more customers._ (Offer discounts for large purchases.)
24. **add credibility to** – **to enhance the believability or trustworthiness of something**
**Base meaning:** “add” means “to increase.”
**Extended meaning:** “credibility to” adds the sense of enhancing trust.
• _His testimony added credibility to the case._ (It made the case more believable.)
• _This new data adds credibility to our research._ (It makes the research more trustworthy.)
25. **add up all the numbers** – **to calculate the total sum of several figures**
**Base meaning:** “add” means “to sum.”
**Extended meaning:** “up all the numbers” adds the sense of calculating everything.
• _You need to add up all the numbers before submitting the report._ (Make sure to total all the figures.)
• _Can you add up all the numbers to see if we’re within budget?_ (The speaker asks for a total calculation.)
26. **add fuel to the fire** – **to worsen an already bad situation**
**Base meaning:** “add” means “to contribute.”
**Extended meaning:** “fuel to the fire” adds the sense of making a situation more intense.
• _His comments only added fuel to the fire during the argument._ (His comments worsened the argument.)
• _Don’t add fuel to the fire by bringing up the past._ (Don’t make the situation worse.)
27. **add insult to injury** – **to make a bad situation worse by doing something additionally harmful**
**Base meaning:** “add” means “to increase.”
**Extended meaning:** “insult to injury” adds the sense of worsening an already bad situation.
• _Losing the game was bad enough, but the referee’s decision added insult to injury._ (It made the loss worse.)
• _He added insult to injury by ignoring her after the argument._ (He made the situation even more painful.)
28. **add flavor to** – **to enhance or improve the taste or quality of something**
**Base meaning:** “add” means “to enhance.”
**Extended meaning:** “flavor to” adds the sense of improving the taste or interest.
• _The herbs really add flavor to the soup._ (The herbs make the soup taste better.)
• _Let’s add some interesting details to add flavor to the presentation._ (Make the presentation more interesting.)
29. **add emphasis to** – **to highlight or give extra importance to something**
**Base meaning:** “add” means “to enhance.”
**Extended meaning:** “emphasis to” adds the sense of making something more significant.
• _The speaker added emphasis to the key points of the speech._ (The speaker highlighted the important points.)
• _Can you add emphasis to the most important sections of the document?_ (The speaker asks to highlight key areas.)
30. **add volume to** – **to increase the quantity or size of something, often hair or sound**
**Base meaning:** “add” means “to increase.”
**Extended meaning:** “volume to” adds the sense of enlarging or amplifying.
• _The stylist used products to add volume to her hair._ (The products made her hair fuller.)
• _Turn up the speaker to add volume to the sound._ (Increase the sound output.)
These 30 phrasal verbs with **add** cover a wide range of meanings, from calculating totals to making things more interesting or intense. The explanations and examples will help you understand how to use these phrasal verbs effectively.