Definition of 'cumulative'

Word Frequency

cumulative

(kjuːmjʊlətɪv )

adjective

If a series of events have a cumulative effect, each event makes the effect greater.

Simple pleasures, such as a walk on a sunny day, have a cumulative effect on our mood.

The benefits from eating fish are cumulative.

Synonyms: collective, increasing, aggregate, amassed More Synonyms of cumulative

cumulatively adverb

His administration was plagued by one petty scandal after another, cumulatively very damaging.

Word Frequency

cumulative in British

(ˈkjuːmjʊlətɪv )

adjective

growing in quantity, strength, or effect by successive additions or gradual steps

cumulative pollution

gained by or resulting from a gradual building up

cumulative benefits

3. finance

(of preference shares) entitling the holder to receive any arrears of dividend before any dividend is distributed to ordinary shareholders

(of dividends or interest) intended to be accumulated if not paid when due

4. statistics

(of a frequency) including all values of a variable either below or above a specified value

(of error) tending to increase as the sample size is increased

Derived forms

cumulatively (ˈcumulatively)

adverb

cumulativeness (ˈcumulativeness)

noun

Word Frequency

cumulative in American

(ˈkjumjələˌtɪv ; kyo̅oˈmyələtivˌ; occas., ˈkjumjəˌleɪtɪv ; kyo̅oˈmyəlātˌiv)

adjective

increasing in effect, size, quantity, etc. by successive additions; accumulated

cumulative interest

taking successive additions into account

a cumulative average

designating or of preferred stock that pays regular dividends which, if not paid on the scheduled date, accumulate and take priority over dividend payments to other classes of the company's stock

4. Law

designating additional evidence that gives support to earlier evidence

Derived forms

cumulatively (ˈcumulaˌtively)

adverb

Word origin of 'cumulative'

see cumulate

Word Frequency

cumulative in Accounting

(kyumyələtɪv)

adjective

(Accounting: Basic)

Cumulative dividends or earnings are added on from period to period.

COLLOCATIONS:

~ dividends~ interest~ earnings~ profit

Analysts estimate that third-quarter earnings for the industry will increase as much as 19 percent from the year-earlier period. If so, their cumulative earnings could hit $4.12 billion.

The Fund provided a six-month cumulative return of 3.26 percent for the six months ended August 31.

Cumulative dividends or earnings are added on from period to period.

Word Frequency

cumulative in Finance

(kyumyələtɪv)

adjective

(Finance: Investment, Stocks)

Cumulative dividends or earnings are added on from period to period.

Analysts estimate that third-quarter earnings for the industry will increase as much as 19 percent from the year-earlier period. If so, their cumulative earnings could hit $4.12 billion.

The Fund provided a six-month cumulative return of 3.26 percent.

Cumulative dividends or earnings are added on from period to period.

Example sentences containing 'cumulative'

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The policy's cumulative cost is about to pass 20 billion. Times, Sunday Times (2016)These look small but frequently have an appalling cumulative impact due to the effects of compounding. Times, Sunday Times (2015)Their cumulative impact did not at first produce anything like a uniform society. Garraty, John Arthur The American Nation: A History of the United States to 1877 (1995)The cumulative increase will take the rise into double figures. Times, Sunday Times (2010)The trouble is that the cumulative effect of those clashes build. Times, Sunday Times (2007)But they could be outweighed by the cumulative effect of other considerations. Times, Sunday Times (2011)It warned that the cumulative impact of all the measures announced in the budget on work incentives was unclear. Times, Sunday Times (2015)The cumulative effect of loud noise is damage to the specialised hair cells in the inner ear that are essential to hearing. Times, Sunday Times (2006)The cumulative effect of breathing, retraining and relaxation exercises will be to reduce arousal. Chaitow, Leon The Beat Fatigue Workbook - how to identify the causes (1988)Some of the cumulative effects of ongoing stress are fatigue, sleep problems and poor health. Times, Sunday Times (2006)Each improvement may seem trivial, but the cumulative effect can be huge. Times, Sunday Times (2013)If you persist in training your mind to follow positive thought patterns, the cumulative effect is enormous. Wilkinson, Steve M.E. and You - a self-help plan (1988)A few successful attempts at recall will be cumulative in their effect. Lumsden, Robert 23 Steps to Successful Achievement (1972)It is one of his party pieces, and he understands its cumulative power as well as any leading conductor today. Times, Sunday Times (2008)Having been beguiled by its strong and cumulative impact, we are surprised when it comes to a sombre and lonely end. Times, Sunday Times (2014)These effects can be cumulative, occurring after the passengers have been riding in the vehicle for a certain number of miles or minutes. Randolph, Theron G. & Moss, Ralph W. (contributor) An Alternative Approach to Allergies (1990)A spokesman said that the figures reflected the cumulative effect of immigration over the past 40 years. Times, Sunday Times (2007)But there are increasing worries at their cumulative impact on the Hunter Valley. Times, Sunday Times (2010)If you're anything like me, the cumulative effect was utter misery. The Sun (2013)To explain such wonders it is necessary, he says, that we understand the power of cumulative selection. Christianity Today (2000)Yet it's a determinedly quiet play whose impact is cumulative, as we see how all these finely drawn characters are constrained by custom or cash. Times, Sunday Times (2014)

Trends of 'cumulative'

In Common Usage. cumulative is one of the 10000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

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Translations for 'cumulative'

British English: cumulative ADJECTIVE

If a series of events have a cumulative effect, each event makes the effect greater.

It is simple pleasures, such as a walk on a sunny day, which have a cumulative effect on our mood.

American English: cumulative
Brazilian Portuguese: cumulativo
Chinese: 累积的
European Spanish: cumulativo
French: cumulatif
German: Gesamt-
Italian: cumulativo
Japanese: 累積する
Korean: 점증적인
European Portuguese: cumulativo
Spanish: cumulativo

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Source

Definition of cumulative from the Collins English Dictionary

The colon ( : )

The colon indicates a break between two main clauses which is stronger than a comma but weaker than a full stop. A colon is used: in front of a list I used three colours : green, blue and pink. ...