What does "add up" mean?

To accumulate into something significant For small issues to combine into a larger problem.

How do you use "add up" in a sentence?

Small costs add up. The stress adds up over time. It all adds up eventually.

Phrasal Verb BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

Meaning: To accumulate into something significant

（小事）积少成多

Acumularse (hasta ser significativo)

（小さなものが）積み重なって大きくなる

(작은 것이) 쌓여서 커지다

For small issues to combine into a larger problem.

小问题合在一起变成更大的问题。

Cuando pequeños problemas se combinan en un problema mayor.

小さな問題が組み合わさって大きな問題になること。

작은 문제들이 합쳐져 큰 문제가 되는 것을 의미한다.

Base verb: add

Particle: up

Separable: No — the verb and particle stay together

Small costs add up.
小的开支积少成多
Los pequeños costes se acumulan
小さなコストも積み重なる
작은 비용도 쌓이면 커진다.
The stress adds up over time.
压力随着时间累积
El estrés se acumula con el tiempo
ストレスは時間とともに蓄積する
스트레스는 시간이 지나면서 쌓인다.
It all adds up eventually.
最终一切都会累积起来
Todo se acumula con el tiempo
最終的にはすべて積み重なる
결국에는 모두 쌓이게 된다.

Context: accumulation, totalling, effects

Tone: reflective

From adding numbers together.

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal