accumulate gradually

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "accumulate gradually" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a process of gathering or increasing something over time, often in a slow or incremental manner. Example: "Over the years, she managed to accumulate gradually a vast collection of rare books."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Intuitively f should be single-moded if incompatibilities accumulate gradually, leading to gradual reduction of the migration rate: if t0 is the inception of species separation and t1 is the time when gene flow has completely ceased, the density f should be >0 in the interval t0 < τ < t1 only.

Genome Biology and Evolution

That's the problem with trend-following investment strategies: profits tend to accumulate gradually but losses can arrive suddenly.

The Guardian - Business

In these situations risks stem largely from seemingly unrelated operational choices across a complex organization that accumulate gradually and can remain hidden for a long time.

Harvard Business Review

Rather, policy-oriented learning describes how lessons from lived or witnessed experience, analysis or social interaction accumulate, gradually altering or confirming a person's thoughts or intentions (Weible et al., 2010; James and Jorgensen, 2009).

Nature

Commercially available cone-shaped VCFs such as the Gunther Tulip filter has an inherent structural flaw that leads the captured blood clots to be trapped in their front spire areas where the flow-induced shear stress is relatively low so that the clots cannot dissolve fast enough and will accumulate, gradually block the central passages of the filters.

Medical Hypotheses

Mutations accumulate gradually and can be used to measure the time that has passed since two groups of species diverged.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Most of the humor is derived from context, which accumulates gradually.

The New York Times

The most common is chronic simple hydrocele, in which fluid accumulates gradually about the testes.

Britannica

But he wanted to create the impression that the station had been built year by year and that its props had accumulated gradually, the way things do in a city where characters buzz through, leaving behind typewriters and shoeshine machines.

The New York Times

The process by which humic acid forms in humus is not well understood, but the consensus is that it accumulates gradually as a residue from the metabolism of microorganisms.

Encyclopedia Britannica

From Fig. 3b f, it can be seen that the amount of CdS accumulated gradually with increase in SILAR cycles.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "accumulate gradually" to emphasize a slow and continuous increase, rather than a sudden surge.

Common error

Avoid using "accumulate gradually" when describing rapid or immediate increases. This phrase is best suited for situations where the increase happens over an extended period.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "accumulate gradually" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to specify how something accumulates. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically sound and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

20%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "accumulate gradually" is a grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to describe a slow, consistent increase or gathering over time. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It is commonly found in scientific, news, and encyclopedic contexts, signaling a neutral to formal register. If you need a substitute, alternatives include "build up slowly" or "increase incrementally". Remember to use "accumulate gradually" when you want to emphasize the incremental nature of growth, avoiding its use for sudden or rapid increases.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

build up slowly

Focuses on the slow building aspect rather than the accumulation.

increase incrementally

Emphasizes the step-by-step nature of the increase.

grow steadily

Highlights the consistent and unwavering growth pattern.

develop progressively

Suggests a forward-moving development with each step.

gather little by little

Focuses on the small increments that accumulate.

accrue over time

Emphasizes the role of time in the accumulation process.

amass bit by bit

Highlights the small, individual contributions to the total.

enlarge by degrees

Emphasizes the gradual and measured increase in size or quantity.

mount up gradually

Stresses the eventual culmination of the gradual accumulation.

collect in stages

Focuses on the accumulation happening in distinct phases.

FAQs

How can I use "accumulate gradually" in a sentence?

You can use "accumulate gradually" to describe a process where something increases slowly over time. For example: "Wealth can "accumulate gradually" through consistent savings".

What are some alternatives to "accumulate gradually"?

Some alternatives to "accumulate gradually" include "build up slowly", "increase incrementally", or "grow steadily".

Is it better to say "accumulate gradually" or "gradually accumulate"?

Both "accumulate gradually" and "gradually accumulate" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice often depends on the rhythm and emphasis you want in your sentence.

What's the difference between "accumulate gradually" and "increase sharply"?

"Accumulate gradually" describes a slow, steady increase, while "increase sharply" describes a sudden, rapid rise. The key difference is the pace of change.