accumulative

American  

[uh-kyoo-myuh-lay-tiv, -luh-tiv] / əˈkju mjəˌleɪ tɪv, -lə tɪv /

adjective

1. tending to accumulate or arising from accumulation; cumulative.

2. tending to accumulate wealth; acquisitive.

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Other Word Forms

• accumulativeness
  noun
• nonaccumulativeness
  noun
• unaccumulativeness
  noun
• nonaccumulative
  adjective
• unaccumulative
  adjective
• accumulatively
  adverb
• nonaccumulatively
  adverb
• unaccumulatively
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of accumulative

First recorded in 1645–55; accumulate + -ive

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Compare meaning

How does accumulative compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• cumulative vs. accumulative

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

accumulative

Previous research suggests that accumulative stone throwing is likely communicative or may even have a symbolic purpose, with sites marking important locations within the chimpanzees’ territory.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 28, 2026

As for questions about her age, she said, "I have accumulative youth."

From Barron's ● Apr. 21, 2026

There’s something about AI being this accumulative source that is like what genre is based on — moves we make to move forward based on looking back at how structures and language are built.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 16, 2024

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

From BBC ● Feb. 15, 2023

For no sooner are we gone hence than, even for such brief times as our memories may endure, we are apt to grow by processes of accumulative transformation into what we never were.

From Sister Dolorosa and Posthumous Fame by James Lane Allen

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