cumulative

Everyday

Cumulative means increasing by adding one amount to another over time, so the total keeps growing. tree →

In the lessons

In maths, a cumulative total (running total) adds each new number to all the earlier ones. In science and health, cumulative effects build up slowly, like damage from too much sun or the benefit of daily practice. In school, a cumulative test covers everything learned so far. Phrases: «cumulative total», «cumulative effect», «cumulative frequency».

Examples

• The cumulative total of rainfall for the week was 40 mm. tree →
• Saving £2 a week has a cumulative effect: £104 in a year. tree →
• Too much sun has a cumulative effect on your skin. tree →
• The cumulative score after three rounds was 75 points. tree →
• Our final exam is cumulative, so revise everything. tree →
• A cumulative tale, like «The House that Jack Built», adds a new line each time. tree →

Note

Pronounced «KYOO-myoo-luh-tiv». In a maths problem, «cumulative» means keep adding: after days with 3, 5 and 2, the cumulative totals are 3, 8 and 10. Adverb: cumulatively.