accumulation

American  

[uh-kyoo-myuh-lay-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

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Etymology

Origin of accumulation

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

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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

See Examples For:

accumulation accumulations

“The accumulation of more information will help the committee determine the policy stance appropriate to ensure a timely return of inflation to the committee’s 2% goal,” it said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026

In addition to resisting excess fat accumulation, they experienced favorable changes in their overall body composition.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 24, 2026

Understanding how this happens could reveal important patterns in the long-term cycles of magma accumulation, volcanic activity, and major eruptions.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 23, 2026

The cause “felt like an accumulation of risks rather than one specific issue,” said Kaiser.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026

The great accumulation of things almost hid the cracks in the walls and the stains on the floor and the scratches that clouded the windows.

From "The Book of Unknown Americans" by Cristina Henríquez

“No, but I’m very excited because it’s kind of a way for me to perhaps move my accumulations into the world at large,” he said.

From Salon ● Jul. 29, 2026

Normal mice developed accumulations of the toxic protein in their brains and went on to show Parkinson's like symptoms.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 12, 2026

Rainfall accumulations of 60-80mm are likely, with as much as 100-120mm over high ground.

From BBC ● Jan. 22, 2026

But people don’t buy annuities and remain reluctant to tap their accumulations.

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 8, 2026

Big Red chased the swaying patterns while his master swept and dusted, scrubbed the floor and scoured the toilet and cleared the desk of literary accumulations.

From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote

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Related Words

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

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