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accrue

[ uh-kroo ]
/ əˈkru /
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See synonyms for: accrue / accrued / accruing / accruement on Thesaurus.com
verb (used without object), ac·crued, ac·cru·ing.
to happen or result as a natural growth, addition, etc.
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.
Law. to become a present and enforceable right or demand.
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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”; see ac-, crew1, accretion

OTHER WORDS FROM accrue

ac·cru·a·ble, adjectiveac·crue·ment, nounnon·ac·cru·ing, adjectivesu·per·ac·crue, verb (used without object), su·per·ac·crued, su·per·ac·cru·ing.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

Words related to accrue

accumulate, amass, collect, enlarge, flow, gather, grow, increase, build up

How to use accrue in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for accrue

accrue
/ (əˈkruː) /
verb -crues, -cruing or -crued (intr)
to increase by growth or addition, esp (of capital) to increase by periodic addition of interest
(often foll by to) to fall naturally (to); come into the possession (of); result (for)
law (of a right or demand) to become capable of being enforced

Word Origin for accrue

C15: from Old French accreue growth, ultimately from Latin accrēscere to increase, from ad- to, in addition + crēscere to grow
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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