cumulative — increasing or increased in quantity, degree, or force by successive additions
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: increasing or increased in quantity, degree, or force by successive additions
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈkjuːmjəleɪtɪv/
Example Sentences
- His cumulative pizza consumption reached 365 slices this year - that's one slice per day!
- The cumulative stress of three exams, two presentations, and a part-time job finally made her explode.
- The company's cumulative profits over the past decade have exceeded expectations.
cumulative
ADJECTIVE[/ˈkjuːmjəleɪtɪv/]
increasing or increased in quantity, degree, or force by successive additions
Construction worker adds to the cumulative height of the growing skyscraper
Cumulative experience helped her become an expert. (COLLECT + ADD = CUMULATIVE → cumulative means things collecting and adding up over time)
Cumulative effort created positive habits and productive results.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin 'cumulatus', meaning 'heaped up' or 'accumulated', derived from 'cumulus' (heap, pile, also cloud). The word conveys the concept of continuous accumulation, metaphorically comparing the gathering of something to clouds stacking and building upward in the sky.
Breakdown
cumul- (from Latin cumulus, meaning heap or pile) + -ative (adjective suffix indicating tendency or quality).
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“His cumulative pizza consumption reached 365 slices this year - that's one slice per day!”
“The cumulative stress of three exams, two presentations, and a part-time job finally made her explode.”
“The company's cumulative profits over the past decade have exceeded expectations.”
“Her cumulative Instagram likes reached one million, making her officially 'internet famous'.”
📚Related Words
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