accumulated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "accumulated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to something that has been gathered or collected over time. Example: "Over the years, she has accumulated a vast collection of rare books."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This is all the more urgent because of the growing risk that for the many who have accumulated long jobless spells, discouragement and loss of human capital make their reintegration more difficult, that is, their unemployment risks becoming structural in nature.

The Guardian - Business

Previous estimates put the amount of heat accumulated by the world's oceans over the past decade equivalent to about 4 Hiroshima atomic bomb detonations per second, on average, but Trenberth's research puts the estimate equivalent to more than 6 detonations per second.

The Guardian

By the time he quit the Commons in 2001, he was Father of the House, yet another addition to the honours, political, academic and artistic which he accumulated.

The Guardian

Capital is a stock – its wealth comes from what has been accumulated "in all prior years combined".

The Guardian - Books

Haile Selassie, the emperor of Ethiopia who accumulated a magnificent list of titles before being deposed in a coup in 1974, has a strong claim to be called the all-time king of bombast.

The Guardian - Opinion

English schools, by contrast, are a multilayered, accumulated patchwork of provision drawing on private and public, religious and secular.

The Guardian - Opinion

He brings over 25 years of agency-side experience, accumulated on both sides of the Atlantic, and will play a key role as the Guardian strengthens its focus on its US business after an extremely successful 12 months.

The Guardian

Just as last year, the jury gave its ultimate acclaim to a brilliant director who has accumulated an overwhelmingly deserving reputation but had actually given us something less than his very best work.

The Guardian - Film

Maybe it was the lack of accumulated scar tissue that helped Gary Ballance look the most composed member of England's top five on his Test debut.

The Guardian - Sport

He is part of the sketch team Derrick Comedy, whose YouTube clips have accumulated more than 30m views, nearly 9m of which are for a sketch about "bro rape".

The Guardian - Music

Jobaline's approach was to identify interactions between an array of different features from pitch to energy accumulated over time, which all combine to give each voice its unique fingerprint or signature.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "accumulated" when you want to emphasize the gradual process of gathering or increasing something over time. It often implies a significant quantity or amount has been reached.

Common error

While both words relate to gathering, "accumulate" often implies a gradual increase over time, whereas "collect" can refer to a more immediate or deliberate gathering. Ensure the context reflects this nuance.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "accumulated" is as a past participle or past tense form of the verb "accumulate". It modifies a noun or acts as part of a verb phrase, as seen in examples from Ludwig like "the amount of heat accumulated by the world's oceans" and "debts accumulated by countries".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "accumulated" functions as a past participle or past tense verb, conveying the gradual increase or gathering of something over time. Ludwig AI highlights its correct grammatical standing and common usage across diverse fields, including news, business, and science. While alternatives like "amassed" or "gathered" exist, "accumulated" emphasizes the gradual nature of the process. Remember to consider the context and nuance when choosing between these similar terms to ensure clarity and precision in your writing. With a high source quality score and an expert rating of 4.5, Ludwig affirms the reliability and versatility of "accumulated" in various written and spoken contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

amassed

Implies a substantial gathering, often of wealth or resources.

gathered

A general term for bringing things together, less formal.

collected

Suggests a more deliberate and organized process of bringing things together.

accrued

Often used in financial contexts to describe the gradual increase of something.

compiled

Suggests gathering information or data into a structured form.

acquired

Implies gaining possession of something over time.

built up

Indicates a gradual increase in size, quantity, or strength.

piled up

Suggests a disorganized accumulation of items.

hoarded

Implies secretly storing a large quantity of something.

stored up

Suggests saving something for future use.

FAQs

How to use "accumulated" in a sentence?

"Accumulated" is typically used to describe something that has increased over a period of time. For example, "She had accumulated a vast knowledge of art history" or "The company accumulated significant debts over the years".

What can I say instead of "accumulated"?

You can use alternatives like "amassed", "gathered", or "collected" depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "accumulated" and "collected"?

"Accumulated" suggests a gradual increase over time, while "collected" implies a more deliberate or immediate gathering. For instance, one might say, "dust accumulated on the shelf," versus "he collected stamps".

Is it correct to say "accumulated knowledge" or "gathered knowledge"?

Both phrases are correct, but they have slightly different connotations. "Accumulated knowledge" suggests knowledge gained gradually over time, while "gathered knowledge" implies a more active and intentional process of acquiring information.