accumulate

[uh-kyoo-myuh-leyt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR accumulate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), ac·cu·mu·lat·ed, ac·cu·mu·lat·ing.

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.

to gather into a heap, mass, cover, etc.; form a steadily increasing quantity: Snow accumulated in the driveway. His debts kept on accumulating.

Nearby words

Origin of accumulate

1520–30; < Latin accumulātus heaped up (past participle of accumulāre), equivalent to ac- ac- + cumul(us) heap + -ātus -ate¹

Related forms

ac·cu·mu·la·ble, adjectivenon·ac·cu·mu·lat·ing, adjectiveo·ver·ac·cu·mu·late, verb, o·ver·ac·cu·mu·lat·ed, o·ver·ac·cu·mu·lat·ing.pre·ac·cu·mu·late, verb (used with object), pre·ac·cu·mu·lat·ed, pre·ac·cu·mu·lat·ing.

re·ac·cu·mu·late, verb, re·ac·cu·mu·lat·ed, re·ac·cu·mu·lat·ing.su·per·ac·cu·mu·late, verb (used without object), su·per·ac·cu·mu·lat·ed, su·per·ac·cu·mu·lat·ing.un·ac·cu·mu·la·ble, adjectiveun·ac·cu·mu·lat·ed, adjectivewell-ac·cu·mu·lat·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for accumulate

Bolstered by the momentum of Savage, Masters continued to accumulate up-and-coming conservative talent.
The Godfather of Right-Wing Radio|Caitlin Dickson|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This means that their gene pools stagnate and accumulate increasingly harmful mutations.
Our Taste for Cheap Palm Oil Is Killing Chimpanzees|Carrie Arnold|July 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To accumulate wealth so fast and on such a scale, it is necessary to eliminate independent law enforcement.
Ukraine’s Revolutionary Lesson for Russia|David Satter|March 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Until early November it was very easy to accumulate a large amount of money by selling, and re-selling highly modified cars.
My Secret Life in Los Santos|Eli Lake|November 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST

I suspect that the answer was not to just accumulate victory points.
Tammany Hall: the Game Where You Play as a New York City Ward Boss|Noah Kristula-Green|May 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Mr. Garland's family claimed so much of my attention—in fact, I supported them—that I was not able to accumulate anything.
Behind the Scenes|Elizabeth Keckley
What do you suppose we'd be doin' with that surplus we'd accumulate?
The Great American Pie Company|Ellis Parker Butler
More dominant, however, as the weeks passed and the branding went on, became the desire to accumulate property—cattle.
Lonesome Land|B. M. Bower
The dogs at home are neat little fellows, and allow no litter to accumulate around their doors.
My Native Land|James Cox
But to accumulate, or to use capital to any considerable extent, the combination of labor is necessary.
Cotton is King and The Pro-Slavery Arguments|Various

British Dictionary definitions for accumulate

accumulate

verb

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

Derived Formsaccumulable, adjectiveaccumulative, adjectiveaccumulatively, adverbaccumulativeness, noun

Word Origin for accumulate

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for accumulate

accumulate

1520s, from Latin accumulatus, past participle of accumulare "to heap up" (see accumulation). Related: Accumulated; accumulating.

accumulate

verb (used with object), ac·cu·mu·lat·ed, ac·cu·mu·lat·ing.

verb (used without object), ac·cu·mu·lat·ed, ac·cu·mu·lat·ing.

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of accumulate

Examples from the Web for accumulate

accumulate

verb

Word Origin for accumulate

accumulate