To gradually gather or increase in amount over time.
“Unpaid fines can accumulate quickly if the tickets are not addressed promptly.”
“Employees accumulate one vacation day for every month of service.”
In Reading Part 3, "accumulate" often describes something building up over a period, such as costs, waste, or experience, which is useful for questions about gradual change or long-term effects. Since this word implies a process rather than a single event, it helps identify paragraphs discussing trends over time rather than one-time occurrences. Look for time expressions nearby, like "over the years" or "since."
Synonyms: build up, gather, amass