Synonyms of additionnext
1
: a part added (as to a building or residential section)
The addition expanded the kitchen.
2
: anything or anyone added : increase
The clerk was a recent addition to the staff.
3
: the act or process of adding
a recipe enhanced by the addition of freshly ground pepper
especially : the operation of combining numbers so as to obtain an equivalent simple quantity
schoolchildren learning about addition and subtraction
4
: direct chemical combination of substances into a single product

Examples of addition in a Sentence

The children learned addition and subtraction. The museum's collection includes several new additions.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The addition of Kenneth Walker III has made all of the offense more diverse and opened a bit more space for Mahomes to find receivers. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026 This thematic dressing followed through to the state banquet in Washington, DC, in March 2026, where the diamond and ruby piece was the final glittering addition to her pink ensemble. — Stephanie Bridger-Linning, Vanity Fair, 25 Oct. 2026 Eventually, an edict from the top came that existing attorneys should not anticipate additions to the court teams, according to one source. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026 What followed was a meticulous restoration focused on preserving the original structures and historical details, and eventually, the addition of a couple of new buildings in the same vernacular to accommodate larger suites. — Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for addition

Word History

Etymology

Middle English addicioun, borrowed from Anglo-French addicion, borrowed from Latin additiōn-, additiō, from addi-, variant stem of addere "to add" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of addition was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Addition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/addition. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

addition

noun
1
: the result of adding : increase
2
: the act, process, or operation of adding
3
: a part added (as to a building)

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