cumulative

adjective cu·mu·la·tive \ ˈkyü-myə-lə-tiv , -ˌlā- \

Updated on: 11 Apr 2018

Definition of cumulative

1 a : increasing by successive additions

b : made up of accumulated parts

2 : tending to prove the same point

cumulative evidence

3 a : taking effect upon completion of another penal sentence

a cumulative sentence

b : increasing in severity with repetition of the offense

cumulative penalty

4 : formed by the addition of new material of the same kind

a cumulative book index

5 : summing or integrating overall data or values of a random variable less than or less than or equal to a specified value

cumulative normal distribution

cumulative frequency distribution

6 finance

a : to be added if not paid when normally due to the next payment or a future payment

cumulative preferred dividends

cumulative interest

b of stock : bearing such a dividend

cumulative preferred stock

—

cumulatively

adverb

—

cumulativeness

noun

See cumulative defined for English-language learners

See cumulative defined for kids

Examples of cumulative in a Sentence

… Game Boy, which first came out in 1989 as a monochrome handheld toy, has become the most successful of all of the systems, reaching cumulative sales of 110 million units to date … —N'gai Croal, Newsweek, 28 May 2001
They began looking at the cumulative effect of stress and realized that, while there might have been an incident that finally triggered the madness, a series of previous events had lowered the soldier's emotional resistance. —Michael Fleming and Roger Manvell, Psychology Today, July 1987
Insist on yourself; never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life's cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another, you have only an extemporaneous, half possession. —Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Self-Reliance," in Essays, 1841
a cumulative weight gain of 20 pounds over the course of a year

Recent Examples of cumulative from the Web

Aetna touted its achievements for the year, including a 45 percent increase in its share price rose, with three-year cumulative total shareholder return up 109 percent.

— stephen singer, courant.com, "Aetna: 2017 Compensation For CEO Bertolini Neared $59 Million," 7 Apr. 2018
This contrast, an essential part of the ballpark’s beauty, is now compromised by the cumulative impact of the new buildings around it, particularly Addison & Clark.

— blair kamin, chicagotribune.com, "Around Wrigley Field, a high-stakes urban design drama plays out as buildings fall and rise," 6 Apr. 2018
One political intervention leads to another, and the cumulative consequence is higher prices, less investment and slower economic growth.

— the editorial board, WSJ, "Punishing America First," 6 Apr. 2018
Miller can earn bonuses if the team wins a certain number of games and the players have a certain cumulative GPA.

— anne ryman, azcentral, "Sean Miller to forfeit $1 million if criminally charged or found guilty of NCAA violation," 3 Apr. 2018
The award is valid for one year and is based on cumulative inspection reports throughout 2017.

— joyce smith, kansascity, "The cleanest restaurants in town? KC Health Department hands out excellence awards | The Kansas City Star," 2 Apr. 2018
But there also is a cumulative effect that also must be monitored.

— ira winderman, Sun-Sentinel.com, "ASK IRA: Have Heat, Whiteside reached a breaking point?," 1 Apr. 2018
An interactive map posted on the Internet last year by Strava compiled the cumulative track-lines of 10 million bikers and others who use smartphones and Fitbits.

— author: rick sinnott | opinion, Anchorage Daily News, "Bears, bikes and avoiding unnecessary togetherness on Anchorage trails," 31 Mar. 2018
Magnified over years, that figure represents a cumulative net loss of more than $63 billion since 2007.

— jen kirby, Vox, "Trump thinks Amazon’s destroying the post office. Here’s what’s really happening.," 30 Mar. 2018

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