accumulate

verb

ac·​cu·​mu·​late ə-ˈkyü-m(y)ə-ˌlāt 

accumulated; accumulating

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

Synonyms

• increase
• rise
• accelerate
• swell
• expand
• multiply

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

These unexplored altitudes are also where satellites burn up during their reentries and where the air pollution produced during their incineration accumulates. —Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 16 Aug. 2025

There, the relevant hashtag flaunts over 36,000 posts that manage to accumulate thousands of likes — as content creators slash DIY stars use it to elevate the looks of their headboards, bed throws, wallpapers, and even kitchen cabinets. —Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 15 Aug. 2025

Go over the floor below the mats, seats and anywhere else that can accumulate loose dirt, debris or pet hair. —Keenan Thompson, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2025

Better cognitive function: Research has shown that sleeping on your side helps the body clear brain waste that accumulates in the central nervous system. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025

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

Rhymes for accumulate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate
• ameliorate

Kids Definition

accumulate

verb

ac·​cu·​mu·​late ə-ˈkyü-myə-ˌlāt 

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