Cumulative for Dummies
adjective
pronunciation: 'kjumjə,leɪtɪvWhat does Cumulative really mean?
Cumulative is a word that we use to describe something that builds up or adds together over time. It's like when we collect things in a jar, and as we keep adding more and more items, the jar becomes fuller and fuller. So, just like that, when something is cumulative, it gets bigger or greater as time goes on.
Let me give you an example to help you understand better. Imagine you have a piggy bank, and every time you receive some money, you put it in your piggy bank. Over time, the amount of money in your piggy bank keeps increasing because you keep adding more coins or bills. This is what we mean by cumulative. It's the idea that something grows or accumulates steadily over time as you keep adding to it.
Now, let's talk about another definition of "cumulative" that might come up sometimes. Sometimes, when we talk about grades or scores in school, we use the term "cumulative" as well. For example, if you have a cumulative grade point average (GPA), it means that it takes into account all the grades you have received throughout the entire school year or semester. So, let's say you got a B in the first quarter, an A- in the second quarter, and a C+ in the third quarter. Your cumulative GPA would be calculated by considering all these grades and giving you an average of them. It's like looking at your overall performance throughout the different parts of the school year, instead of just one specific time.
In summary, "cumulative" means something that keeps getting bigger or greater as time goes on. It's like adding more and more items to a jar or collecting more and more money in a piggy bank. It can also refer to the overall result or average that takes into account everything that has happened before, like a cumulative GPA. So, understanding this word will help you recognize situations where things are building up over time or where all past results are being considered.
Let me give you an example to help you understand better. Imagine you have a piggy bank, and every time you receive some money, you put it in your piggy bank. Over time, the amount of money in your piggy bank keeps increasing because you keep adding more coins or bills. This is what we mean by cumulative. It's the idea that something grows or accumulates steadily over time as you keep adding to it.
Now, let's talk about another definition of "cumulative" that might come up sometimes. Sometimes, when we talk about grades or scores in school, we use the term "cumulative" as well. For example, if you have a cumulative grade point average (GPA), it means that it takes into account all the grades you have received throughout the entire school year or semester. So, let's say you got a B in the first quarter, an A- in the second quarter, and a C+ in the third quarter. Your cumulative GPA would be calculated by considering all these grades and giving you an average of them. It's like looking at your overall performance throughout the different parts of the school year, instead of just one specific time.
In summary, "cumulative" means something that keeps getting bigger or greater as time goes on. It's like adding more and more items to a jar or collecting more and more money in a piggy bank. It can also refer to the overall result or average that takes into account everything that has happened before, like a cumulative GPA. So, understanding this word will help you recognize situations where things are building up over time or where all past results are being considered.
Revised and Fact checked by Ava Clark on 2023-10-28 08:54:13
Cumulative In a sentece
Learn how to use Cumulative inside a sentece
- When you have a cumulative score in a game, it means your score keeps adding up as the game progresses. For example, if you score 5 points in the first level and then 3 more points in the second level, your cumulative score would be 8 points.
- If you have a cumulative allowance, it means that the amount of money you receive keeps increasing over time. For instance, if you get $5 every week, and after four weeks, you have saved all your allowance, your cumulative savings would be $20.
- In a cumulative story, each part adds to the previous parts to tell a bigger story. For instance, if one part of the story is about a lion and another part is about a mouse, the cumulative story would tell how they become friends and go on adventures together.
- When you have cumulative knowledge, it means that you keep learning and remembering things as you go along. For example, if you learn addition and then learn subtraction, your cumulative knowledge of math would include both addition and subtraction skills.
- If you receive a cumulative grade in a class, it means that your overall grade is based on all the assignments and tests you have completed throughout the semester. So, even if you didn't do well on one test, you can still improve your cumulative grade by doing well on the other assignments.
Cumulative Synonyms
Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.
Cumulative Similar Words
Words that similar to the original word, but are not synonyms.