Synonyms of accrete

accrete

verb

ə-ˈkrēt 

as in to accumulate

to gradually form into a layer, pile, or mass

silt accreting at the mouth of the river over time

Synonyms & Similar Words

• accumulate
• gather
• collect
• concentrate
• amass
• conglomerate
• pile (up)
• mass
• build up
• stack (up)
• lump
• drift
• agglutinate
• clump
• ridge
• bank

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disperse
• dissipate
• scatter

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of accrete

The protagonists are ultimately constructed like robots, accreting no more experiences or traits or memories than they’re programmed to have. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026

In a gas-dwarf scenario, planets are believed to form rock cores that accrete a small percentage of hydrogen-helium during the formation process. — Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026

Instruments drift in and out, sometimes accreting into subtle polyrhythms or harmonies, and other times lightly undergirding Ederra’s gorgeous runs. — Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 11 Mar. 2026

For the first few billion years of cosmic history, galaxies formed and grew by accreting more and more material from the intergalactic medium, as well as by merging together to form larger, more mature galaxies. — Big Think, 20 Feb. 2026