accumulate

[ uh-kyoo-myuh-leyt ]

/ əˈkyu myəˌleɪt /

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 accumulated

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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
The Guardian reported in 2007 that he had accumulated $40 billion in hidden wealth.
The Stench of Sochi|Alex Berenson|February 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST

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|DAILY BEAST
He closed the door noiselessly and seating himself at his desk, proceeded with slow deliberation to open his accumulated mail.
Ann Arbor Tales|Karl Edwin Harriman
I have less even than that, because there are some debts that have accumulated and must be paid.
The Bread Line|Albert Bigelow Paine
In short, he accumulated all the information he could by which the cost of logging might be estimated.
The Blazed Trail|Stewart Edward White
He accumulated a large fortune and I believe left many descendants.
As I Remember|Marian Gouverneur
I could not shake off that picture of her, sitting alone in that dreary rotunda of accumulated human knowledge.
The Tower of Oblivion|Oliver Onions

British Dictionary definitions for accumulated

accumulate

/ (əˈkjuːmjʊˌleɪt) /

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 accumulated

accumulated

adj.

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

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.

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Origin of accumulate

Examples from the Web for accumulated

accumulate

verb

Word Origin for accumulate

accumulated

accumulate