Accumulating
/əˈkjuːmjʊleɪtɪŋ/
verbIntermediateCommonGeneral
Meaning
Questions
Definitions
1
To gather or acquire something gradually, increasing in quantity or size over time.
/əˈkjuːmjʊleɪtɪŋ/
verbneutralIntermediate
General
Gathering or acquiring something gradually
Dust was accumulating on the shelves.
💡 Simply: To get more and more of something.
More Examples
2
She is accumulating experience in her new job.
How It's Used
Finance
"He was accumulating wealth through shrewd investments."
Science
"The experiment showed the accumulating effects of radiation."
From Latin *accumulare, from *ad- "to" + *cumulus "heap". The word evolved through Old French and Middle English.
The word has been used in a similar sense since the 16th century, often in the context of wealth or possessions.
Memory tip
Imagine a snowball rolling downhill, accumulating snow as it goes.
Practice
Base: accumulate
acumulatingacumulateingacculumating
Usage
30%Spoken
70%Written