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

"This is a common modification we see in biology. However, we found that HGF loses its physiological activity when it becomes nitrated, and this phenomenon accumulates with age."

From Science Daily

Water is attracted to the hydrophilic areas and droplets are accumulated and transported through the hydrophobic areas.

From Science Daily

Unlike today’s earthworms, these 1-centimeter fossils, called Uncus dzaugisi, lack any segments and had an outer coat stiff enough to keep them from being completely flattened as sediments accumulated on top of them.

From Science Magazine

Despite the affairs, the hurt and the accumulated bitterness over the years, the pair continued to make people laugh — and laugh at each other.

From Los Angeles Times

Until now, the process by which a million cubic kilometres of salt accumulated in the Mediterranean basin over such a short period of time remained unknown.

From Science Daily

Related Words

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