accumulate
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
to collect a large amount of something over time, often without trying very hard.
to heap up or collect something in a mass; to bring together gradually. Transitive — takes a direct object.
Simple“Over the years, he managed to accumulate a large collection of rare books.”
In context“The corporation continued to accumulate capital throughout the fiscal year, despite the downturn in the global manufacturing sector.”
UsageOften used with abstract nouns like wealth, evidence, or debt.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
to grow or increase in number or amount over time.
to gradually grow or increase in quantity or number. Intransitive — does not take a direct object.
Simple“Dust began to accumulate on the windowsills of the empty house.”
In context“Toxic chemicals can accumulate in the soil over several decades, posing a significant risk to local groundwater supplies.”
UsageCommonly used in scientific or environmental contexts to describe physical buildup.
- 03 C2 Proficiency
to take two university degrees at the same time or very close together.
to take a higher degree at the same time as a lower degree, or at a shorter interval than is standard.
Simple“In the past, a student might accumulate their Bachelor's and Master's degrees in the same year.”
In context“The university statutes formerly permitted candidates to accumulate degrees under specific, albeit rare, circumstances of exceptional scholarship.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is extremely rare in modern English; learners will almost exclusively encounter the 'collect' or 'increase' meanings.
Usage accumulated naturally
“If you do choose to take further leave, you can take up to 11 weeks, flexibly in weekly periods, which can be accumulated or interrupted, up until the child is one year old.”
“Fluid runs along tiny channels beside the brain's blood vessels, washing away the waste products that accumulate during waking hours.”
First attested c. 1487; from Middle English accumylaten, borrowed from Latin accumulātus, perfect passive participle of accumulō (“to amass, pile up”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), formed from ad (“to, towards, at”) + cumulō (“to heap”), from cumulus (“a heap”) + -ō (first conjugation verb-forming suffix). Cognate with French accumuler.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.