accumulate

accumulate

verb

Definition of ACCUMULATE

1

to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number <the number of complaints about that mail order firm is really accumulating>

Synonyms accelerate, accumulate, appreciate, balloon, boom, build up, burgeon (also bourgeon), climb, enlarge, escalate, expand, gain, mount, multiply, mushroom, proliferate, rise, roll up, snowball, spread, swell, wax

Related Words jump, rocket, skyrocket, surge; heighten, intensify, redouble; blow up, bulk, distend, inflate, puff (up); crescendo, crest, peak

Antonyms contract, decrease, diminish, dwindle, lessen, recede, wane

2

to bring together in one body or place <finally accumulated enough donated books to hold a book sale>

Synonyms accumulate, amass, assemble, bulk (up), collect, concentrate, congregate, constellate, corral, garner, group, lump, pick up, round up

Related Words ball, batch, bunch, cluster, huddle; heap, pile, stack; band, brigade, muster, raise, rally; flock, herd, hive, pack, press, swarm, throng; combine, connect, join, link, merge, pool, unite; archive, arrange, collate, compile, organize, systematize; scrape (up or together); re-collect, regather, regroup

Near Antonyms break up, disband, disintegrate, dissolve, separate, sever, split (up); dismiss, send

Antonyms dispel, disperse, dissipate, scatter

3

to gradually form into a layer, pile, or mass <clouds accumulating on the western horizon>

Synonyms accrete, accumulate, amass, build up, concentrate, conglomerate, gather, mass, pile (up), stack (up)

Related Words agglutinate, clump, lump; bank, drift, ridge

Near Antonyms disperse, dissipate, scatter