accrue

verb

ac·​crue ə-ˈkrü How to pronounce accrue (audio)
accrued; accruing

intransitive verb

1
: to come into existence as a legally enforceable claim
2
a
: to come about as a natural growth, increase, or advantage
the wisdom that accrues with age
b
: to come as a direct result of some state or action
rewards due to the feminine will accrue to meGermaine Greer
3
: to accumulate or be added periodically
interest accrues on a daily basis

transitive verb

: to accumulate or have due after a period of time
accrue vacation time
accruable adjective
accruement noun

Examples of accrue in a Sentence

I'll get back all the money I invested, plus any interest and dividends that have accrued. investments that have accrued interest and dividends
Recent Examples on the Web The former president is also accruing over $100,000 of post-judgment interest in that case each day. Olivia Rinaldi, Caitlin Huey-Burns, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2024 If probation is extended, judges would receive a progress report if children accrue four additional unexcused absences. Hannah Gaskill The Baltimore Sun (tns), arkansasonline.com, 10 Mar. 2024 That band accrued 17 turns in charge of the competitive chart during their years together. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 The problem, of course, is that the judgment against him is $450 million — with interest, which continues to accrue at about $112,000 per day. Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 28 Feb. 2024 But the possibility of MBL in one-dimensional chains survived, because an avalanche sweeping across a line accrues energy states more slowly. Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024 After someone starts the process to dispute their ticket, all fees are frozen, so Kennedy didn't have to pay her ticket for fear of accruing fees, Shepherd added. Quinn Clark, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024 While a payment agreement is in effect, the late-payment penalty (i.e. failure-to-pay penalty) accrues at half the normal rate. Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2024 Jackson County filed the liens on his property in May 2022 for delinquent land taxes of more than $23,600, with interest to accrue at the first of each month. Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 2 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'accrue.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English acrewen, acruwen, probably borrowed from Anglo-French *acreue "increase," noun derivative from feminine of acreu, past participle of acreistre "to increase, grow," going back to Latin accrēscere, from ad- ad- + crēscere "to grow" — more at crescent entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of accrue was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near accrue

Cite this Entry

“Accrue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accrue. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

accrue

verb
ac·​crue ə-ˈkrü How to pronounce accrue (audio)
accrued; accruing
1
: to come about as a natural growth or addition
benefits accrue to society from education
2
: to accumulate over a period of time
accrued interest
accrual
-ˈkrü-əl
noun

Legal Definition

accrue

verb
ac·​crue ə-ˈkrü How to pronounce accrue (audio)
accrued; accruing

intransitive verb

1
: to come into existence as an enforceable claim : vest as a right
action…does not accrue until the plaintiff knew or reasonably should have known that he may have suffered injuryNational Law Journal

Note: Statutes of limitations begin to run when a cause of action accrues.

2
: to come by way of increase or addition : arise as a growth or result
usually used with to or from
advantages accruing to society from the freedom of the press
interest accrues to the seller as a result of the delay
3
: to be periodically accumulated in the process of time whether as an increase or a decrease
the accruing of taxes
allowing the receivable interest to accrue

transitive verb

1
: to accumulate or have due after a period of time
authorized by law to accrue leave in the maximum amount of 90 days
2
: to enter in the books as an accrual
Etymology

Middle French accreue increase, addition to a property, from feminine of accreu, past participle of acreistre to increase

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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