The adjective 'cumulative' has its etymological roots in the Latin word 'cumulare,' derived from 'cumulus,' meaning 'a heap' or 'an accumulation.' 'Cumulative' etymologically conveys the idea of something gradually building up or increasing over time, much like a heap or accumulation of smaller elements. It signifies the process of incremental additions or changes that accumulate to create a larger whole. 'Cumulative' is often used to describe the combined effect of multiple factors or ... CUMULATIVE definition: 1. increasing by one addition after another: 2. increasing by one addition after another: 3…. Learn more. Synonyms for CUMULATIVE: accumulative, additive, incremental, gradual, accretive, conglomerative, stepwise, compiled; Antonyms of CUMULATIVE: regressive, decremental ... Definition of cumulative adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.