accumulate
verb OPAL W
/əˈkjuːmjəleɪt/
/əˈkjuːmjəleɪt/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they accumulate | /əˈkjuːmjəleɪt/ /əˈkjuːmjəleɪt/ |
| he / she / it accumulates | /əˈkjuːmjəleɪts/ /əˈkjuːmjəleɪts/ |
| past simple accumulated | /əˈkjuːmjəleɪtɪd/ /əˈkjuːmjəleɪtɪd/ |
| past participle accumulated | /əˈkjuːmjəleɪtɪd/ /əˈkjuːmjəleɪtɪd/ |
| -ing form accumulating | /əˈkjuːmjəleɪtɪŋ/ /əˈkjuːmjəleɪtɪŋ/ |
- [transitive] accumulate something to gradually get more and more of something over a period of time synonym amass
- I seem to have accumulated a lot of books.
- By investing wisely she accumulated a fortune.
- We have accumulated a great amount of evidence.
Synonyms collectcollect- gather
- accumulate
- amass
- collect to bring things or information together from different people or places; to gradually increase in amount in a place:
- We’ve been collecting data from various sources.
- Dirt had collected in the corners of the room.
- gather to bring things together that have been spread around; to collect information from different sources:
- I waited while he gathered up his papers.
- Detectives have spent months gathering evidence.
- accumulate (rather formal) to gradually get more and more of something over a period of time; to gradually increase in number or quantity over a period of time:
- I seem to have accumulated a lot of books.
- Debts began to accumulate.
- amass (rather formal) to collect something in large quantities, especially money, debts or information:
- He amassed a fortune from silver mining.
- to collect/gather/accumulate/amass data/evidence/information
- to accumulate/amass a fortune/debts
- dirt/dust/debris collects/accumulates
- to gradually/slowly collect/gather/accumulate (something)
Extra ExamplesTopics Change, cause and effectc1- Children gradually accumulate knowledge as they grow up.
- the wealth he had accumulated over the years
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- gradually
- slowly
- steadily
- …
- begin to
- be allowed to
- tend to
- …
- accumulate over the years
- accumulate over time
- [intransitive] to gradually increase in number or quantity over a period of time synonym build up
- Debts began to accumulate.
- Dust and dirt soon accumulate if a house is not cleaned regularly.
Synonyms collectcollect- gather
- accumulate
- amass
- collect to bring things or information together from different people or places; to gradually increase in amount in a place:
- We’ve been collecting data from various sources.
- Dirt had collected in the corners of the room.
- gather to bring things together that have been spread around; to collect information from different sources:
- I waited while he gathered up his papers.
- Detectives have spent months gathering evidence.
- accumulate (rather formal) to gradually get more and more of something over a period of time; to gradually increase in number or quantity over a period of time:
- I seem to have accumulated a lot of books.
- Debts began to accumulate.
- amass (rather formal) to collect something in large quantities, especially money, debts or information:
- He amassed a fortune from silver mining.
- to collect/gather/accumulate/amass data/evidence/information
- to accumulate/amass a fortune/debts
- dirt/dust/debris collects/accumulates
- to gradually/slowly collect/gather/accumulate (something)
Extra ExamplesTopics Change, cause and effectc1- Dirt must not be allowed to accumulate.
- Evidence began to accumulate, suggesting that the drug had harmful side-effects.
- Toxic chemicals tend to accumulate in the body.
- seas and lakes where sedimentary deposits are slowly accumulating
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- gradually
- slowly
- steadily
- …
- begin to
- be allowed to
- tend to
- …
- accumulate over the years
- accumulate over time
Word Originlate 15th cent.: from Latin accumulat- ‘heaped up’, from the verb accumulare, from ad- ‘to’ + cumulus ‘a heap’.