cumulative
cumulative Lexical Profile
cumulative Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Increasing or growing in quantity, degree, or force by successive additions over time.
"The study examined the cumulative effects of chronic sleep deprivation on cognitive performance."
Formed by or resulting from the combination of all parts, items, or previous stages up to a given point; comprehensive in scope (especially of an examination or statistical total).
"Students must prepare thoroughly because the final exam is cumulative and covers material from the entire semester."
Designating a class of preferred stock or dividend in which any unpaid dividends from previous periods must be paid in full before common shareholders receive a distribution.
"The company issued cumulative preferred shares to attract conservative investors seeking guaranteed dividend payouts."
Word Nuance & Usage
"Cumulative" is sometimes confused with "accumulative"; while "cumulative" describes the growing total or combined effect of successive additions, "accumulative" typically describes a tendency or process of gathering or hoarding things.
• Rhymes for cumulative
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the early 17th century from Medieval Latin cumulativus, from Latin cumulatus, the past participle of cumulare ("to heap up"), derived from cumulus ("a heap" or "pile").