cumulative
/ˈkjuːmjələtɪv/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkjuːmjəleɪtɪv/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkyü-myə-lə-tiv -ˌlā-/ (ame, mw)
cumulative — adjective
- cumulativepositive
- more cumulativecomparative
- most cumulativesuperlative
1. building up gradually in amount, strength, or effect as more parts are added ove
building up gradually in amount, strength, or effect as more parts are added over a period of time — for example, the way repeated small doses of a drug produce a stronger reaction, or the way tiny savings grow into a large fund
The cumulative effect of her night shifts finally made Adina book a holiday.
collocation: cumulative effect of [cause]
After months of practice, Naoko saw a cumulative improvement in her piano playing.
The cumulative damage from small earthquakes weakened the old temple's walls.
Hassan's cumulative knowledge of local plants helped him identify the rare flower.
A cumulative rise in sea temperatures threatens coral reefs around the island.
- accumulating
more verb-like; emphasises the ongoing process rather than the gathered result
- growing
broader scope; can apply to anything that increases, not only by addition of similar parts
- mounting
carries a sense of pressure or worry building up; more dramatic than 'cumulative'
- diminishing
describes something shrinking or decreasing, the opposite trajectory
文法句型
cumulative + noun (effect / damage / impact / improvement / knowledge / rise)
用法筆記
Often pairs with nouns that name something measurable or experiencable — effect, damage, impact, improvement, knowledge, rise — where each addition pushes the total outcome a little further.
常見錯誤
2. relating to a figure that results from combining all previous amounts or contrib
relating to a figure that results from combining all previous amounts or contributions into one final total — for example, the combined score after several rounds of a game, or the sum of all monthly sales for the year
The cumulative total of donations reached fifty thousand dollars by midnight.
collocation: cumulative total of [amount]
Devika checked her cumulative score after each round of the competition.
The report listed the cumulative number of visitors since the museum reopened.
Manuela added up the cumulative cost of all her art supplies for the term.
Pim recorded the cumulative distance of his cycling trip on a small device.
- individual
refers to each separate part rather than the whole
- single
describes one item on its own, not the combined result
文法句型
the cumulative + noun (total / score / sum / number / cost / grade / sales)
cumulative + noun + of + [amount]
用法筆記
Typically modifies a numerical or measurable outcome — score, total, sum, grade, cost, distance, sales. Not used for one-off single items ('the cumulative price of this one book' is unnatural).