Basic Details
Word: Amassing
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Collecting or building up a large amount of something over a period of time.
Synonyms: gathering, collecting, accumulating, hoarding
Antonyms: scattering, spending, losing
How to Spell Amassing
Syllables: a - mass - ing
Tricky part: One m and a double s. Do not mix it up with amazing, which has a z and a long a sound.
Watch out for: amasing, ammassing, ammasing
Memory tip: Someone amassing coins is building a mass of them. Keep the whole word mass, double s and all, between a and ing.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The dragon in the story spent centuries amassing gold in its cave.
Example 2: My brother has been amassing cricket cards since Class 3.
Example 3: The ants were busy amassing crumbs near the kitchen door.
Fun Fact
Amass comes from French amasser, to heap up, built on masse, a lump or heap. That same French word gave English the noun mass.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word amassing as used in the sentence:
The businessman spent forty years amassing a huge collection of old coins.
a) spending
b) scattering
c) hiding
d) gathering
Show answer
d) gathering. Amassing is gathering a large amount; scattering and spending point the other way.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
ammassing
a) i
b) s
c) m
d) a
Show answer
c) m. Mass begins with a single m, and the a in front does not double it.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
The squirrel was snamagis nuts for the long winter.
a) amassing
b) massaging
c) amazing
d) assigning
Show answer
a) amassing. Amazing has a z and massaging two g's; two s's, two a's and one g make amassing.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. emerold 2. treasurey 3. jewellary 4. amassing
a) collecting a large amount over time
b) a bright green precious stone
c) rings, necklaces and other ornaments worn for decoration
d) a place or department where money is kept and managed
Show answer
a) collecting a large amount over time. Mass sits whole inside amassing, double s and all. Treasury, jewellery and emerald each have one wrong or extra letter here.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A person amassing wealth is ____.
a) getting richer and richer
b) giving money away
c) losing a job
d) paying off a loan
Show answer
a) getting richer and richer
2. Amassing comes from the verb ____.
a) amass
b) amaze
c) amuse
d) admit
Show answer
a) amass
