CUMULATIVE definition : reached by gradually adding one thing after another: . Learn more. CUMULATIVE definition: 1. increasing by one addition after another: 2. increasing by one addition after another: 3…. Learn more. The adjective cumulative describes the total amount of something when it's all added together. Eating a single chocolate doughnut is fine, but the cumulative effect of eating them all day is that you'll probably feel sick. " Cumulative " refers to the process where additions over time lead to an increase in quantity, knowledge, or effects. It is commonly applied in contexts like education, finance, and science to describe how smaller increments build up to create significant results. This concept emphasizes the importance of understanding how individual contributions, when combined, shape final outcomes.
