cumulative
Increasing by successive additions over time
Examples
In a meeting
“The cumulative effect of these small delays has put us behind schedule.”
Over coffee
“The cumulative cost of eating out every day really adds up.”
Why this word
increasing
Cumulative specifies growth by successive additions, while increasing only indicates getting larger
growing
Cumulative emphasizes accumulation through addition, while growing is vaguer about the mechanism
total
Cumulative stresses the process of adding up over time, while total only indicates sum
Usage tip
Use when describing effects or amounts that grow through gradual accumulation
Etymology
Latin: cumulare (to heap up)
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Related words
expand
To make something larger, more extensive, or more detailed
garner
To gather or collect, especially praise, support, or information
traction
The extent to which an idea or product gains acceptance
proliferate
To increase rapidly in number; multiply
plateau
Reach a stable level after growth, with no further increase
scalable
Able to be increased in size or scope to handle growth.