Dictionary.com

incur

[ in-kur ]
/ ɪnˈkɜr /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR incur ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), in·curred, in·cur·ring.

to come into or acquire (some consequence, usually undesirable or injurious): to incur a huge number of debts.
to become liable or subject to through one's own action; bring or take upon oneself: to incur his displeasure.

QUIZZES

FOR LEXICAL ALIMENTATION, TAKE THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Nourish your vocabulary with a refresher on the words from the week of September 14–20, 2020!
Question 1 of 7
What does “blatherskite” mean?
a person given to voluble, empty talk.
an ancient Greek or Roman farce that depended for effect largely upon ludicrous actions and gestures.
a check whose amount has been raised by forgery before cashing.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of incur

1400–50; late Middle English <Latin incurrere to run into, come upon, equivalent to in-in-2 + currere to run; see current

OTHER WORDS FROM incur

in·cur·ra·ble, adjectivere·in·cur, verb (used with object), re·in·curred, re·in·cur·ring.self-in·curred, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to incur

acquire, earn, provoke, arouse, obtain, draw, get, induce, contract, gain, catch, meet with

Example sentences from the Web for incur

British Dictionary definitions for incur

incur
/ (ɪnˈkɜː) /

verb -curs, -curring or -curred (tr)

to make oneself subject to (something undesirable); bring upon oneself
to run into or encounter

Derived forms of incur

incurrable, adjective

Word Origin for incur

C16: from Latin incurrere to run into, from currere to run
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