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.

Origin of accumulate

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

Related formsac·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. 2018

Examples from the Web for accumulated

Contemporary Examples

In our digital world, all the accumulated knowledge of human history is available in the palm of our hands.
The Facts About Ferguson Matter, Dammit
Doug McIntyre
December 3, 2014
The crowd that accumulated to watch the squabble reportedly applauded and cheered as Bieber fled the scene.
An Unlikely Hero Blooms in Ibiza: Orlando Bloom Sort of Punches Justin Bieber
Amy Zimmerman
July 30, 2014
The raw numbers that he accumulated over his 19 years in that uniform—at least, the raw offensive numbers—are unarguably great.
Why We Worship Derek Jeter (Even If He Kinda Sucks at Shortstop)
Robert Silverman
February 13, 2014
The Guardian reported in 2007 that he had accumulated $40 billion in hidden wealth.
The Stench of Sochi
Alex Berenson
February 12, 2014
Nonetheless, the accumulated costs of senseless mass shootings pile up, demanding our attention.
What We Didn’t Learn After Newtown
John Avlon
December 8, 2013

Historical Examples

Silence was painful to me, and reply only accumulated difficulty and vexation.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. 327
Various
But the accumulated weight of generations of broken law is on our heads.
Hetty's Strange History
Anonymous
I had accumulated a farflung line of drinking men as friends.
The Old Game
Samuel G. Blythe
There was the accumulated bitterness of months in his voice.
A Breath of Prairie and other stories
Will Lillibridge
Had they not yet finished paying their accumulated debt to misfortune?
Fruitfulness
Emile Zola

British Dictionary definitions for accumulated

accumulate

verb

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

Derived Formsaccumulable, adjectiveaccumulative, adjectiveaccumulatively, adverbaccumulativeness, noun

Word Origin

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 accumulated

adj.

past participle adjective from accumulate (v.). It drove out accumulate (adj.) in this sense (except in poetic use) by c.1700.

accumulate

v.

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

accumulate

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}accumulate

Examples from the Web for accumulated

Contemporary Examples

In our digital world, all the accumulated knowledge of human history is available in the palm of our hands.

The crowd that accumulated to watch the squabble reportedly applauded and cheered as Bieber fled the scene.

The raw numbers that he accumulated over his 19 years in that uniform—at least, the raw offensive numbers—are unarguably great.

The Guardian reported in 2007 that he had accumulated $40 billion in hidden wealth.

Nonetheless, the accumulated costs of senseless mass shootings pile up, demanding our attention.

Historical Examples

Silence was painful to me, and reply only accumulated difficulty and vexation.

But the accumulated weight of generations of broken law is on our heads.

I had accumulated a farflung line of drinking men as friends.

There was the accumulated bitterness of months in his voice.

Had they not yet finished paying their accumulated debt to misfortune?

accumulate

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for accumulated

adj.

accumulate

v.

Origin of accumulate