cu·mu·late
ˈkyü-myə-ˌlāt 
cumulated; cumulating
1
: to gather or pile in a heap
2
: to combine into one
3
: to build up by addition of new material
: to become massed
cu·mu·la·tion
ˌkyü-myə-ˈlā-shən
÷-mə-
plural -s
1
: a heaping together : a gradual building up
cumulation of effect of a drug
the cumulation of a body of jurisprudence
2
: the product or result of cumulating
three cumulations of the index were published yearly
Did you know?
Cumulate and its far more common relative accumulate both come from the Latin word cumulare, meaning "to heap up." Cumulare, in turn, comes from cumulus, meaning "mass." (Cumulus functions as an English word in its own right as well. It can mean "heap" or "accumulation," or it can refer to a kind of dense puffy cloud with a flat base and rounded outlines.) Cumulate and accumulate overlap in meaning, but you're likely to find cumulate mostly in technical contexts. The word's related adjective, cumulative, however, is used more widely.
Examples of cumulate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
13 Mar. 2026
Wage rates for factory work rose a little faster than inflation over this time period, cumulating to a 20% gain.
—
Bill Conerly,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
Beijing has ramped up economic support since late September, but measures so far have not cumulated in the large-scale stimulus that many investors have hoped for.
—
Evelyn Cheng,anniek Bao,
CNBC,
28 Apr. 2025
But the last few years, the chain has set new lows by restricting its discounts to rapidly expiring coupons and rewards points cumulated in previous purchases.
—
Chicago Tribune,
20 Dec. 2024
Trump’s policies, the model calculates, will cumulate to $5.8 trillion more over this period.
—
Milton Ezrati,
Forbes,
24 Oct. 2024
An Ohio town took celebrating the total solar eclipse to a level above barbecues and tailgates on Tuesday, instead hosting one huge eclipse party that cumulated in over 100 marriages and vow renewals.
—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA TODAY,
9 Apr. 2024
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
Auriemma described it as one of the most emotional moments of his career, years of struggle and disappointment cumulating in the catharsis of finally accomplishing that ultimate goal.
—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
13 Mar. 2026
Wage rates for factory work rose a little faster than inflation over this time period, cumulating to a 20% gain.
—
Bill Conerly,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
Beijing has ramped up economic support since late September, but measures so far have not cumulated in the large-scale stimulus that many investors have hoped for.
—
Evelyn Cheng,anniek Bao,
CNBC,
28 Apr. 2025
But the last few years, the chain has set new lows by restricting its discounts to rapidly expiring coupons and rewards points cumulated in previous purchases.
—
Chicago Tribune,
20 Dec. 2024
Trump’s policies, the model calculates, will cumulate to $5.8 trillion more over this period.
—
Milton Ezrati,
Forbes,
24 Oct. 2024
An Ohio town took celebrating the total solar eclipse to a level above barbecues and tailgates on Tuesday, instead hosting one huge eclipse party that cumulated in over 100 marriages and vow renewals.
—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA TODAY,
9 Apr. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Cumulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cumulate. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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