verb
amass
uh-MAS
verb
1
To gather a large amount of something over time, often wealth, possessions, or information.
"He amassed a small fortune trading stocks in his twenties."
"The library has amassed thousands of rare manuscripts over the centuries."
How to Use Amass
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo build up a large quantity of something, usually gradually.
Common mistake
Amass almost always takes an object (you amass something) — it describes accumulation, not just growing on its own.
Common pairings
amass wealth
amass evidence
amass a fortune
amass followers
Word Forms
amassed past tense, amasses plural, amasses singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “amass”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
He _____ a small fortune trading stocks in his twenties.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman amasser, ultimately from Latin ad- ("to") plus massa ("lump, mass") — the same root as "mass".