accumulate

verb

ac·​cu·​mu·​late ə-ˈkyü-m(y)ə-ˌlāt How to pronounce accumulate (audio)
accumulated; accumulating
Synonyms of accumulate

transitive verb

: to gather or pile up especially little by little : amass
accumulate a fortune

intransitive verb

: to increase gradually in quantity or number
snow accumulating to a depth of several feet

Synonyms of accumulate

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Once more than 20 feet deep in some areas, Lake Jesup today is barely six feet deep as muck and other debris have accumulated on the bottom. — Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 July 2026 Since its introduction, CFM has delivered more than 10,000 LEAP engines worldwide, with the fleet accumulating over 100 million engine flight hours. — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 19 July 2026 What happens when interconnected debt starts accumulating faster than human understanding can keep pace? — Doug Shannon, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026 Research indicates that, as apex predators, sharks accumulate high levels of heavy metals — including arsenic, mercury and lead — in their blood and tissues. — ABC News, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for accumulate

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

Rhymes for accumulate

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Browse Nearby Words

accumulable
accumulate
accumulated
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Accumulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accumulate. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

accumulate

verb
ac·​cu·​mu·​late ə-ˈkyü-myə-ˌlāt How to pronounce accumulate (audio)
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

transitive verb

: to gather especially little by little
specifically : to add (income from a fund) back into the principal

intransitive verb

: to increase gradually in amount or number

More from Merriam-Webster on accumulate

Nglish: Translation of accumulate for Spanish Speakers

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