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.

The chemicals, known as PFAS, don’t break down in the environment and accumulate in the body, potentially causing health problems such as cancer and infertility.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

A previous attempt to run for President in 2020 saw the rapper accumulate just 60,000 votes out of an estimated total of 160 million.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

Any soil that does accumulate on the surface is often washed into caves, where it settles and creates pockets of suitable material.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026

Blankfein added that the long period without a financial crisis cleansing process meant ”you accumulate tinder on the floor of the forest and eventually a spark will come.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026

One is long life expectancy, which in principle should give prospective inventors the years necessary to accumulate technical knowledge, as well as the patience and security to embark on long development programs yielding delayed rewards.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Vocabulary lists containing accumulate

List 2

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Gimme, Gimme, Gimme

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"Of Mice and Men"

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