The phrasal verb "sum up" is commonly used in both informal and formal contexts, though it tends to appear more frequently in informal settings like conversations and casual writing. In formal contexts, such as academic writing or speeches, you might find "summarize" or "recapitulate" used instead, although "sum up" is perfectly acceptable in less stringent formal scenarios. The phrase means to condense the main points or essence of a larger body of work or discussion into a brief conclusion or summary. It is often employed towards the end of discussions, meetings, or reports to encapsulate what has been covered. "Sum up" is versatile and adaptable, suitable for multiple contexts ranging from personal anecdotes to professional reports, making it an invaluable phrasal verb in English usage.
B1
PreIntermediate
1. To summarize information, providing the main points in a concise manner.
She summed up the meeting in a few key points.
To sum up the lecture, the professor gave a brief overview of the main themes.
2. To express an overall impression or judgment about someone or something.
After the debate, the journalist summed up the candidate as confident and well-prepared.
In one sentence, he summed up the film as a masterpiece of storytelling.