accrue

[ uh-kroo ]

verb (used without object)

, ac·crued, ac·cru·ing.

1. to happen or result as a natural growth, addition, etc.

   Synonyms: gather, collect, accumulate

   Antonyms: scatter, dissipate, disperse, dispel

2. to be added as a matter of periodic gain or advantage, such as an employment benefit or interest on money:

   Paid time off is accrued weekly, at a rate of one hour per week.

   Synonyms: increase, grow

   Antonyms: lessen, diminish, decrease, dwindle

3. Law. to become a present and enforceable right or demand.

accrue

/ əˈkruː /

verb

1. to increase by growth or addition, esp (of capital) to increase by periodic addition of interest
2. often foll by to to fall naturally (to); come into the possession (of); result (for)
3. law (of a right or demand) to become capable of being enforced

Other Words From

• ac·cru·a·ble adjective
• ac·crue·ment noun
• non·ac·cru·ing adjective
• su·per·ac·crue verb (used without object) superaccrued superaccruing

Word History and Origins

Origin of accrue¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English acruen, acrewen, probably from Anglo-French accru(e), Middle French accreu(e), past participle of ac(c)resitre “to increase,” from Latin accrēscere “to grow”; ac-, crew ¹, accretion

Word History and Origins

Origin of accrue¹

C15: from Old French accreue growth, ultimately from Latin accrēscere to increase, from ad- to, in addition + crēscere to grow

Example Sentences

The fines accrue thousands of dollars in interest every week.

From The Daily Beast

You have to accrue power, use it in ethical ways, and hope that voters reward you for doing this.

From The Daily Beast

Makes your kids want to do their chores, by allowing them to purchase prizes with the points they accrue.

From The Daily Beast

Makes your kids want to do their chores by allowing them to purchase prizes with the points they accrue.

From The Daily Beast

And Blizzard takes a 15% cut of the real-money transactions; the commissions that used to flow to eBay now accrue to them.

From The Daily Beast

From this time, by the help of these machines, immense and incalculable riches will accrue to the nation.

From Project Gutenberg

Other cases may occur, in which great advantage would accrue, if the principle were once admitted.

From Project Gutenberg

No possible benefit could accrue to Sylvia from a disclosure of his suspicion that he had borne the letter to her grandfather.

From Project Gutenberg

His excellency also referred to the advantages which would accrue from the establishment of an agricultural society.

From Project Gutenberg

The only gain that would accrue from his confession would be, he considered, a subjective gain to himself.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• accumulate
• amass