accumulate

[uh-kyoo-myuh-leyt] / əˈkyu myəˌleɪt /

VERB

gather or amass something

Synonyms

STRONGEST

accrue acquire add to assemble collect compile concentrate expand gain grow hoard increase pile up rack up swell

STRONG

agglomerate aggregate amalgamate cache collocate cumulate gather heap incorporate lump mass pile procure profit stockpile store unite

WEAK

bring together clean up draw together heap together load up make a bundle make a killing roll up round up scare up stack up store up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

contract decrease diminish disperse divide forfeit lessen lose scatter separate shrink spend waste

WEAK

dissipate dwindle squander

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Researchers found that these cells, called macrophages, accumulate iron while breaking down old red blood cells.

From Science Daily • May 31, 2026

Repeat offenders who accumulate 12 points could therefore face disqualification from driving.

From BBC • May 28, 2026

Cells with extra DNA may stop functioning normally, become inactive, die, change into other cell types, accumulate age related damage, or contribute to diseases including cancer.

From Science Daily • May 25, 2026

“Over time, couples may spend less time focusing on each other and more time focused on caregiving responsibilities. Small losses in time, attention and emotional availability can accumulate over months or years.”

From MarketWatch • May 21, 2026

The only kid with enough points for advancement was Elliot, but I was surprised to see how many points my fellow classmates had managed to accumulate while I avoided the tests like the plague.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

Vocabulary lists containing accumulate

List 2

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Gimme, Gimme, Gimme

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

"Of Mice and Men"

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!