accrue

[ uh-kroo ]
/ əˈkru /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR accrue 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, as interest on money.
Law. to become a present and enforceable right or demand.

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Origin of accrue

1425–75; late Middle English acruen, acrewen, probably <Anglo-French accru(e), Middle French accreu(e), past participle of ac(c)reistre to increase <Latin accrēscere grow. See ac-, crew1, accretion

OTHER WORDS FROM accrue

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to accrue

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

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