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accumulate
verb
ac·cu·mu·late
ə-ˈkyü-m(y)ə-ˌlāt
accumulated; accumulating
: to gather or pile up especially little by little : amass
accumulate a fortune
: to increase gradually in quantity or number
snow accumulating to a depth of several feet
Synonyms
Examples of accumulate in a Sentence
Evidence of his guilt is accumulating.
the number of complaints about that mail order firm is really accumulating
Recent Examples on the Web
After consuming a lot of excess food or drink, how many toxins does the body accumulate?
—Vicky Vera, Glamour, 24 Jan. 2025
In a similar vein, Democrats say Hegseth lacks adequate experience and has accumulated too many damning claims against him.
—Ramsey Touchberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 23 Jan. 2025
The overpayment had been accumulating for several years.
—John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025
According to YouTube, the Southside Jamaica, Queens native accumulated the most streams of any New York rapper throughout the past year.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 23 Jan. 2025
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Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Latin accumulātus, past participle of accumulāre "to heap up, add to, increase," from ad- ad- + cumulāre "to gather into a heap" — more at cumulate
Note: In part a Latinization of Middle French accumuler.
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Time Traveler
The first known use of accumulate was
in the 15th century
Articles Related to accumulate
Dictionary Entries Near accumulate
Cite this Entry
“Accumulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accumulate. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.
Kids Definition
accumulate
verb
ac·cu·mu·late
ə-ˈkyü-myə-ˌlāt
accumulated; accumulating
1
: to gather or pile up especially little by little : amass
accumulate a fortune
2
: to increase in quantity, number, or amount
rubbish accumulates quickly
Legal Definition
accumulate
verb
ac·cu·mu·late
accumulated; accumulating
: to gather especially little by little
specifically
: to add (income from a fund) back into the principal
: to increase gradually in amount or number
More from Merriam-Webster on accumulate
Nglish: Translation of accumulate for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of accumulate for Arabic Speakers
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