accumulation

noun

ac·cu·mu·la·tion | \ ə-ˌkyü-m(y)ə-ˈlā-shən

Definition of accumulation

1 : something that has accumulated or has been accumulated an impressive accumulation of knowledge

2 : the action or process of accumulating something : the state of being or having accumulated the steady accumulation of snow

3 : increase or growth by addition especially when continuous or repeated accumulation of interest

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Examples of accumulation in a Sentence

a vast accumulation of evidence about the dangers of smoking the accumulation of leaves on the ground is proceeding at a much faster rate than my raking

Recent Examples on the Web

The Bad Kind of Bloom Red tides are algae blooms, a sudden and rapid accumulation of algae in a water system. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "What Are Red Tides and Why Are They Getting Worse?," 14 Aug. 2018 This study measured the accumulation of these mobile genetic elements in the brain as a consequence of maternal care. — Robert Martone, Scientific American, "Early Life Experience: It’s in Your DNA," 10 July 2018 Cuba issued new measures on Monday to limit the accumulation of wealth by Cubans who own private businesses on the island. — Nora Gámez Torres, miamiherald, "Cuba imposes more taxes and controls on private sector and increases censorship on the arts," 10 July 2018 Where Zama’s story goes from there matters less as a straightforward narrative and more as a careful accumulation of sound, movement, and ironic but lingering images of colonialism and karmic comeuppance. — Michael Phillips, chicagotribune.com, "'Zama' review: A mirage of New World wonder," 12 Apr. 2018 In New England, heavy snow is expected with a total accumulation of more than 14 inches. — Fox News, "Spring nor'easter could bring upwards of 18 inches of snow, hampering Wednesday commute," 20 Mar. 2018 Instead, the slow accumulation of evidence and the reevaluation of assumptions in response to new evidence gradually strengthen conclusions. — Chris Lee, Ars Technica, "Quark-gluon plasma reveals viscosity-free properties," 19 Dec. 2018 The company’s relentless accumulation of user data isn’t just a grab for power or a default behavior. — Casey Newton, The Verge, "Why we can’t stop debating whether Facebook sells data," 14 Dec. 2018 Stockpiling is the accumulation of drugs beyond levels that a company would otherwise deem necessary. — Donato Paolo Mancini, WSJ, "Sanofi Has Been Stockpiling Drugs for No-Deal Brexit for Six Months," 31 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'accumulation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near accumulation

accumulate

accumulated surplus

accumulated temperature

accumulation

accumulation factor

accumulation of energy

accumulative

Statistics for accumulation

Last Updated

11 Jan 2019

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Time Traveler for accumulation

The first known use of accumulation was in the 15th century

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More Definitions for accumulation

accumulation

noun

ac·cu·mu·la·tion | \ ə-ˌkyü-myə-ˈlā-shən

Kids Definition of accumulation

1 : an act of collecting or gathering the accumulation of snow

2 : collection sense 2 an accumulation of junk

accumulation

noun

ac·cu·mu·la·tion

Legal Definition of accumulation

: increase or growth by addition especially when continuous or repeated specifically : an increase in the amount of a fund or property by the continuous addition to it of the income or interest it generates to treat a stock dividend as principal when local law classifies it as income may be deemed an accumulation — W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al. — see also accumulation trust at trust

Note: Because they prevent the enjoyment and benefit of wealth, accumulations are deemed contrary to public policy. A provision in a will for an accumulation will be invalidated if found to be unreasonable by the court.