Showing results for "accrued"

• past tense form of accrue.
• past participle of accrue.

accrued

American  

[uh-krood] / əˈkrud /

adjective

1. added as a matter of periodic gain or advantage, as interest on money.

   Each year, grants from the accrued interest on the trust fund are awarded to agencies and programs serving the Navajo Nation.

2. happening or coming as or through a natural growth or addition; accumulated.

   The handmade ornaments speak of generations of accrued skill and a high degree of workmanship.

3. Law. noting a right or demand that has become present and enforceable.

   Termination will not affect the accrued rights of either party under this Agreement.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of accrue.

Other Word Forms

• nonaccrued
  adjective
• unaccrued
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of accrued

accrue ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Compare meaning

How does accrued compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• incurred vs. accrued

Explanation

If something accumulates over a period of time, you can describe this with the adjective accrued. The principal in your bank account is so small, you'll never get rich off the accrued interest. You'd better plan on getting a job. The adjective accrued comes from the Old French word acreu, meaning growth or increase, which is what the modern word describes as well — something that grows or accumulates over time. You forgot to pay your taxes on time. Now, with the accrued fees and penalties, you now owe twice as much as you did originally. The government is happy to take the extra money, but you should try to avoid that costly mistake in the future.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

accrued

And although the dollar’s share of global central-bank currency reserves has declined by 3% since December 2020, the offsetting increases have accrued within the “other currencies” category tracked by the International Monetary Fund.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 28, 2026

By 2025, “Monopoly Go!” had accrued $6 billion in lifetime in-app purchase revenue, becoming the fastest free mobile game to do so, according to app analytics firm Sensor Tower.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2026

Earlier this year, Elliott had accrued a multibillion-dollar stake in Synopsys, The Wall Street Journal reported in March.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 27, 2026

Making money isn’t the main point of the government’s investments, but the accrued gains are welcome.

From Barron's ● May 8, 2026

But he had also spent those same years marveling at the benefits that accrued to anyone willing to pose for posterity in the mythical mode.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis