accumulative

[ uh-kyoo-myuh-ley-tiv, -luh-tiv ]

adjective

1. tending to accumulate or arising from accumulation; cumulative.
2. tending to accumulate wealth; acquisitive.

Other Words From

• ac·cumu·lative·ly adverb
• ac·cumu·lative·ness noun
• nonac·cumu·la·tive adjective
• nonac·cumu·la·tive·ly adverb
• nonac·cumu·la·tive·ness noun
• unac·cumu·lative adjective
• unac·cumu·lative·ly adverb
• unac·cumu·lative·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of accumulative¹

First recorded in 1645–55; accumulate + -ive

Example Sentences

The debut film as writer-director from acclaimed playwright Annie Baker, “Janet Planet” sneaks up on you with a quiet, accumulative emotional power.

From Los Angeles Times

“The accumulative effect is powerful over time.”

From Los Angeles Times

A report in 2003 said no metals detected exceeded the critical concentration at which plant toxicity effects become apparent, but metals were accumulative in the human body and consumption of food with higher than normal metal levels posed a risk.

From BBC

"Additionally, our study revealed that multiyear La Niña are distinguished from single-year La Niña by a conspicuous onset rate, which foretells its accumulative intensity and climate impacts."

From Science Daily

She said it was an 11.5% increase in April, and an "accumulative increase" of more than 30% since 2018.

From BBC