accumulation

American  

[uh-kyoo-myuh-ley-shuhn] / əˌkju mjəˈleɪ ʃən /

noun

accumulations plural

1. act or state of accumulating; state of being accumulated.

2. that which is accumulated; an accumulated amount, number, or mass.

3. growth by continuous additions, as of interest to principal.

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accumulation British  

/ əˌkjuːmjʊˈleɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of collecting together or becoming collected

2. something that has been collected, gathered, heaped, etc

3. finance

   1. the continuous growth of capital by retention of interest or earnings

   2. (in computing the yield on a bond purchased at a discount) the amount that is added to each yield to bring the cost of the bond into equality with its par value over its life Compare amortization

4. the taking of a first and an advanced university degree simultaneously

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonaccumulation
  noun
• overaccumulation
  noun
• preaccumulation
  noun
• reaccumulation
  noun
• superaccumulation
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• accumulations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of accumulation

First recorded in 1480–90, accumulation is from the Latin word accumulātiōn- (stem of accumulātiō ). See accumulate, -ion

Explanation

An accumulation is a gathering or increase of something over time. You might cross your fingers in hopes of a large accumulation of snow, so that you get a day off of school. Accumulation comes from a Latin word meaning "to heap up." The word continues to have this feeling of something growing upwards on top of itself, as if in a heap. If you keep putting money in the bank, the amount you have is the accumulation of your savings. If it is an interest bearing account, the interest will accumulate, making the total even larger.

Example Sentences

“The accumulation of crises has made it harder for young people to focus on the past,” says Matthias Thiel, head of the political education program at the Louise Schroeder vocational school in Berlin.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 8, 2026

But the accumulation of methane gas, exacerbated by heat waves and the climate crisis, can turn these dumping grounds into powder kegs.

From BBC • Jul. 8, 2026

However, when the goal is to increase energy expenditure and reduce fat accumulation, this type of inefficiency can actually work in the body's favor.

From Science Daily • Jul. 3, 2026

For years, digital surveillance has advanced through accumulation.

From Slate • Jun. 29, 2026

“No. You need to spend it. All of it. But we’ll need rules. Like no accumulation of assets.”

From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty

Related Words

• accretion
• aggregation
• buildup
• growth
• inflation
• pile
• quantity