accrue

[ uh-kroo ]

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.

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 for accrue

1	accumulate, collect; gather
2	grow, increase

See synonyms for accrue on Thesaurus.com

Opposites for accrue

1	dispel, disperse, dissipate, scatter
2	dwindle, decrease, diminish, lessen

See antonyms for accrue on Thesaurus.com

Other words from accrue

ac·cru·a·ble, adjective
ac·crue·ment, noun
non·ac·cru·ing, adjective
su·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. 2023

How to use accrue in a sentence

Since these benefits could start accruing a few weeks after residents in a facility are fully immunized, “I would recommend the vaccine for a 97-year-old with significant dementia,” Uy said.
Are the coronavirus vaccines safe for someone with cancer, dementia or MS? | Judith Graham | January 31, 2021 | Washington Post
The heat produced by infrared light is less damaging than heat produced by coils because it dries the hair from the inside out, protecting the layers that have accrued the most damage.
The best hair dryer: Get a salon-worthy blowout at home | Carsen Joenk | January 22, 2021 | Popular-Science
It’s still a pretty legitimate debate whether President Sears was a “good guy,” but it’s without doubt that the man had intentions beyond himself or the power he can accrue.
The best presidents in video games | Gene Park | January 20, 2021 | Washington Post
One of the Nationals’ acquisition tenets is to accrue talent up the middle and let it fan out from there.
Nationals sign 16-year-old Dominican shortstop Armando Cruz to $3.9 million bonus | Jesse Dougherty | January 15, 2021 | Washington Post
Additionally, the company will miss out on the fees it normally accrues.
By clamping down on DC rioters, Airbnb is finally acting like it owns the place | Rani Molla | January 15, 2021 | Vox

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

Origin of 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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