accrue

[ uh-kroo ]

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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

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Opposites for accrue

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

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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

Of the old Greek Period, then, we may say that it accrues rather to the benefit of humanity than to that of science.
An Epitome of the History of Medicine | Roswell Park
Great lyric poetry as the art of a life only accrues from the renunciation of all other forms of poetry.
mile Verhaeren | Stefan Zweig
There is a small but significant advantage in vitality that accrues to later children of a family.
Education: How Old The New | James J. Walsh
The benefit also accrues from the greater facility with which all community business may be conducted.
American Rural Highways | T. R. Agg
In unexpected, close encounters a great advantage accrues to the side which first opens rapid and accurate fire with battle sight.
Infantry Drill Regulations, United States Army, 1911 | United States War Department

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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