accrue

American  

[uh-kroo] / əˈkru /

verb (used without object)

accrued, accruing

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.

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accrue British  

/ 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

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Usage

What does accrue mean? Accrue means to grow and accumulate naturally or to be added periodically. It’s especially used in the context of finance to refer to the growth of interest in an account.The past tense of accrue (accrued) can also be used as an adjective describing something that has been accumulated, as in accrued interest.The noun form of accrue is accrual.In law, accrue means to become a legal right.Example: A retirement fund allows money to accrue over the course of your career so that you can support yourself once you stop working.

Other Word Forms

• accruable adjective
• accruement noun
• nonaccruing adjective
• superaccrue verb (used without object)

Etymology

Origin of accrue

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

Example Sentences

It is not uncommon for an advance to be treated as a loan, accrue interest, and, most importantly, be offset against a future inheritance.

From MarketWatch

A borrower might decide he’s better off investing his money in the stock market than repaying loans, which accrue interest at a lower rate than his investments return.

From The Wall Street Journal

The families called for "those past and present who have presided over this despicable incompetence" to be held to account and stripped of their pensions accrued during their time at the hospital.

From BBC

Milan make the short trip to face high-flying Como on Thursday as the division's leading trio play games in hand accrued by their participation in the Italian Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.

From Barron's

“We believe outsized value will accrue in the agent orchestration layer that controls and governs agents across multiple vendors,” putting ServiceNow in a good spot, Borges wrote.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• accumulate
• amass