accumulated

Everyday

1. Accumulated means gathered or collected bit by bit over time. tree →
2. Accumulated (adjective) describes the total amount that has built up. tree →

In the lessons

In maths problems it means a running total: «she accumulated 120 points over the week» means all her points added together. In science and geography: snow, dust or rubbish accumulates. In money lessons: savings and interest accumulate. Formal; everyday words are «built up», «piled up», «collected».

Examples

• Snow accumulated on the roof overnight. tree →
• He accumulated 250 points in the game. tree →
• Dust had accumulated under the bed. tree →
• Her accumulated savings came to 80 pounds. tree →
• Leaves accumulated in the gutter. tree →
• Over the term, the class accumulated 40 stars. tree →
• Rubbish accumulated on the beach after the storm. tree →
• The Fox accumulated all that they had killed into one large heap and left to himself the smallest possible morsel. tree →

Note

Spelling: double «c», one «m»: accumulate. Noun: accumulation. In maths: an accumulated total = sum of all the parts added over time.