accumulate

[ uh-kyoo-myuh-leyt ]

verb (used with object)

, ac·cu·mu·lat·ed, ac·cu·mu·lat·ing.

1. to gather or collect, often in gradual degrees; heap up:

   to accumulate wealth.

verb (used without object)

, ac·cu·mu·lat·ed, ac·cu·mu·lat·ing.

1. to gather into a heap, mass, cover, etc.; form a steadily increasing quantity:

   Snow accumulated in the driveway. His debts kept on accumulating.

accumulate

/ əˈkjuːmjʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. to gather or become gathered together in an increasing quantity; amass; collect

Derived Forms

• acˈcumulative, adjective
• acˈcumulatively, adverb
• acˈcumulativeness, noun
• acˈcumulable, adjective

Other Words From

• ac·cumu·la·ble adjective
• nonac·cumu·lating adjective
• over·ac·cumu·late verb overaccumulated overaccumulating
• preac·cumu·late verb (used with object) preaccumulated preaccumulating
• reac·cumu·late verb reaccumulated reaccumulating
• super·ac·cumu·late verb (used without object) superaccumulated superaccumulating
• unac·cumu·la·ble adjective
• unac·cumu·lated adjective
• well-ac·cumu·lated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of accumulate¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin accumulātus “heaped up,” past participle of accumulāre “to heap up,” from ac- ac- + cumul(us) “heap” ( cumulus ( def ) ) + -āre, infinitive verb suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of accumulate¹

C16: from Latin accumulātus, past participle of accumulāre to heap up, from cumulus a heap

Example Sentences

By hook or by crook, Napoli are finding the way to accumulate the wins under Conte and the former captain and coach of Juventus is doing well to eradicate the Azzurri’s soft underbelly.

From BBC

But researchers know less about how multiple, different instances of adversity or stressors can accumulate within the body and what their overall impact is on an animal’s well-being.

From Salon

The fliers that come through the mail slot accumulate but go unread.

From Los Angeles Times

Rather, certain genes tend to accumulate in flightless birds, like clusters of modified elements of the genome.

From Salon

Artificial turf is full of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, known as “forever chemicals” because they accumulate in the environment and living tissue.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accrue
• acquire
• add to
• assemble
• collect
• compile
• concentrate
• expand
• gain
• grow
• hoard
• increase
• pile up
• rack up
• swell