accumulate

verb

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

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

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.
Heaviest snow still to come The weather service said some of the heaviest snow was expected to fall overnight, with as much as 2 inches per hour accumulating at times in some areas, before tapering off by Monday afternoon. Anthony Izaguirre, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026 Many of the trades the Bulls made at the deadline were focused on moving players to accumulate second-round picks while positioning the roster for a tank job. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026 Clear Debris Winter winds and storms tend to cause a lot of chaos in yards; as weather starts to calm down over the course of the month, February is an ideal opportunity to clear up old mulch, broken branches, piles of leaves, and any other debris that has accumulated. Nishaa Sharma, The Spruce, 22 Feb. 2026 Professional maintenance of your air ducts is especially important after home renovations, as dust and debris may have accumulated in your ductwork. Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 22 Feb. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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

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