accumulate
verb (used with object)
to gather or collect, often in gradual degrees; heap up.
have been accumulating
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present perfect progressiveof accumulate.present perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that began in the past, has continued continuously, and is still in progress.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"I do not believe a single meeting can resolve all the issues that have been accumulating for nearly a century," Cheng said.
From Barron's ● Mar. 30, 2026
Treasurys has turned negative have been accumulating over many years.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 3, 2026
On the supply side, iron ore shipments remain at seasonally high levels, while port inventories have been accumulating, squeezing upward price pressure, it says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2025
And even if those billions have been accumulating basically without anyone’s help, we tend to assume that the rich have some innate expertise as to how that money might best be spent.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 16, 2022
Having addressed myself to clear off a heap of letters that have been accumulating, I find I have not answered an inquiry of yours of nearly a month's standing.
From Life and Letters of Thomas Henry Huxley — Volume 3 by Leonard Huxley
