accumulate

American  

[uh-kyoo-myuh-leyt] / əˈkyu myəˌleɪt /

verb (used with object)

accumulated, accumulating

1. to gather or collect, often in gradual degrees; heap up.

   to accumulate wealth.

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verb (used without object)

accumulated, accumulating

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 British  

/ əˈkjuːmjʊˌleɪt /

verb

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

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Other Word Forms

• accumulable adjective
• accumulative adjective
• accumulatively adverb
• accumulativeness noun
• nonaccumulating adjective
• overaccumulate verb
• preaccumulate verb (used with object)
• reaccumulate verb
• superaccumulate verb (used without object)
• unaccumulable adjective
• unaccumulated adjective
• well-accumulated adjective

Etymology

Origin of accumulate

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

Example Sentences

Weather around the country is turning warmer in recent days, which is expected to melt some of the accumulated ice.

From The Wall Street Journal

Reyes, the former Jefferies analyst, said he was taken aback by how much debt Gary had accumulated.

From The Wall Street Journal

But putting out too many fires can also prevent landscapes from getting the burns they need, allowing extra fuel to accumulate and raising the risk of larger fires later.

From Science Daily

A colder storm could cause snow to accumulate on the Grapevine section of the 5 Freeway — as well as the Tehachapi Pass, which connects Bakersfield to the Mojave Desert.

From Los Angeles Times

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday night, citing sources familiar with the matter, that Elliott has accumulated a stake worth more than $1 billion, which would make it among the company’s largest shareholders.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

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