Showing results for "accrued"

• past participle of accrue.
• past tense form 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

When asked about her pay, Adelkoff said the unusually high compensation was the result of a payout of unused vacation time that had accrued over the 40 years she has worked at the nonprofit.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026

Having invested in hedge funds for over 20 years, the fund has accrued a good sense of the strong managers, the network and the partnerships, said Yeo.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

"The public debate tends to focus on total hypothetical debt accrued, as opposed to what students actually end up repaying," the university said.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

The ruling also requires payment of unspecified accrued interest.

From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026

The sum of it had almost entirely depleted the modest savings Ekon had accrued from his time at the temple, not that Koffi needed to know that, or anything else about his financial situation.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray