Word
cumulative
Meanings
Increasing or growing by adding to what already exists; building up over time.
Representing the total amount up to a certain point, including all earlier amounts.
Definition
Cumulative means increasing by adding one part to another over time.
Cumulative describes something that builds up gradually as more is added. Each new amount is combined with what came before, creating a total. It is often used for totals, effects, or results measured over a period of time.
Examples
- The cumulative effect of stress can harm your health.
- We tracked the cumulative sales for the entire year.
- After three hours, the cumulative delay reached forty minutes.
- The report shows the cumulative number of cases over time.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes use cumulative for a single, one-time change instead of something that builds up over time.
More adjectives
- agnostic An agnostic is someone who does not claim to know whether God exists.
- pragmatic Pragmatic means focused on practical results rather than ideals or theories.
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- cynical Cynical describes believing that people are mainly motivated by self-interest and not sincere.
- apathetic Apathetic means showing little or no interest, concern, or enthusiasm.