accumulation

American  

[uh-kyoo-myuh-ley-shuhn] / əˌkyu myəˈleɪ ʃən /

noun

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

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

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

At the end of the 75-year accumulation period, the trust fund would repay the Treasury the principal and interest on the original borrowed amount.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

Using the gradual accumulation of genetic changes, known as the "molecular clock," the researchers dated the oldest lineages found only in Aboriginal Australians and New Guineans to about 60,000 years ago.

From Science Daily • Apr. 9, 2026

The market is expected to regain momentum later this year and current levels are viewed as attractive for accumulation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that a source within the Bulls organization said the decision to dismiss Ivey didn’t stem from one incident but rather from an accumulation of posts and comments that started in February.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

But the sign was long gone, snapped off by a hurricane or an accumulation of decay.

From "Paper Towns" by John Green

Related Words

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