greater/better/more than the sum of its parts

idiom

used to say that something is better or more effective as a team, combination, etc., than would be expected when looking at the different parts that form it
The team lacks standout players, but it has proved to be greater than the sum of its parts.

Examples of greater/better/more than the sum of its parts in a Sentence

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.
This synergy can be a game-changing advantage, transforming each individual and the collective team into something greater than the sum of its parts. Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025 Guerrero likens their artistic partnership to the one between she and Losa—a study in difference uniting in a whole that is even greater than the sum of its parts. Helena Alonso Paisley, Miami Herald, 2 Mar. 2025 The benefits of this swarm are greater than the sum of its parts. Anna Funk, Discover Magazine, 6 Feb. 2025 Here’s more: As a whole can be greater than the sum of its parts, so a complete poem is richer than the sum of all the things that can be said about its passages. Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 31 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for greater/better/more than the sum of its parts

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Greater/better/more than the sum of its parts.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/greater%2Fbetter%2Fmore%20than%20the%20sum%20of%20its%20parts. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!