accumulation

American  

[uh-kyoo-myuh-lay-shuhn] / əˌkju mjəˈleɪ ʃən /

noun

• accumulations
  plural

1. act or state of accumulating; state of being accumulated.

2. that which is accumulated; an accumulated amount, number, or mass.

3. growth by continuous additions, as of interest to principal.

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accumulation British  

/ əˌkjuːmjʊˈleɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of collecting together or becoming collected

2. something that has been collected, gathered, heaped, etc

3. finance

   1. the continuous growth of capital by retention of interest or earnings

   2. (in computing the yield on a bond purchased at a discount) the amount that is added to each yield to bring the cost of the bond into equality with its par value over its life Compare amortization

4. the taking of a first and an advanced university degree simultaneously

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonaccumulation
  noun
• overaccumulation
  noun
• preaccumulation
  noun
• reaccumulation
  noun
• superaccumulation
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• accumulations
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of accumulation

First recorded in 1480–90, accumulation is from the Latin word accumulātiōn- (stem of accumulātiō ). See accumulate, -ion

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Explanation

An accumulation is a gathering or increase of something over time. You might cross your fingers in hopes of a large accumulation of snow, so that you get a day off of school. Accumulation comes from a Latin word meaning "to heap up." The word continues to have this feeling of something growing upwards on top of itself, as if in a heap. If you keep putting money in the bank, the amount you have is the accumulation of your savings. If it is an interest bearing account, the interest will accumulate, making the total even larger.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

accumulation accumulations

Meanwhile, growing wealth tied to the stock market partly reflects “billionaires getting richer and richer,” as well as aging baby boomers and their accumulation of assets, Long said.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026

With mining capacity continuing to ramp up, expectations for inventory accumulation are strong, it adds.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026

By studying rocks from South Africa, they found that changes in ocean chemistry helped create a natural cycle in which biological activity supported the continued accumulation of atmospheric oxygen.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026

Galindo says he concludes from the data available that there is not a notable accumulation of property to rent among a small number of owners in Spain.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

The capture and confession of Klaus Fuchs were like a dam breaking in Lamphere's and Gardner's years-long accumulation of clues, leads, and evidence of an active Soviet espionage ring in the United States.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau

“No, but I’m very excited because it’s kind of a way for me to perhaps move my accumulations into the world at large,” he said.

From Salon ● Jul. 29, 2026

Normal mice developed accumulations of the toxic protein in their brains and went on to show Parkinson's like symptoms.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 12, 2026

Rainfall accumulations of 60-80mm are likely, with as much as 100-120mm over high ground.

From BBC ● Jan. 22, 2026

But people don’t buy annuities and remain reluctant to tap their accumulations.

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 8, 2026

Gone the ink marks from legs and face, all my creations and accumulations of the day gone, and replaced by goose pimples.

From "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison

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Related Words

• accretion
• aggregation
• buildup
• growth
• inflation
• pile
• quantity

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