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Definition of accumulate

accumulate

/əˈkjuːmjəleɪt/
ac · cu · mu · late
Adverb:accumulatively
•
Adjective:accumulative
•
Past Simple:accumulated
•
Past Participle:accumulated
•
Present Participle:accumulating
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accumulate Lexical Profile

accumulate Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To gather, collect, or acquire an increasing number or quantity of something over time.

Example

"Over her thirty-year career, the researcher accumulated an extensive archive of historical manuscripts."

2

To gradually increase in amount, number, or volume as more is added.

Example

"Heavy snow began to accumulate on the mountain passes as the temperature dropped below freezing."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for accumulate

• Nearby Words

accrual
accrue
accumulable
accumulate
accumulation
accumulative
accumulator

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the late 15th century from Latin accumulatus, the past participle of accumulare ('to heap up'), formed from ad- ('to') and cumulare ('to heap'), from cumulus ('a heap or pile').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Accumulate. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/accumulate
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