WordGarden.ioaccrue
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /əkrˈuː/
US
- /əˈkru/
Meanings
Verb
to build up over time, especially as interest, charges, or earned benefits
to come to someone as a gain, benefit, or result
of a legal claim or right, to arise or become enforceable
Beyond the definition
Imagine a snowball rolling down a hill. As it rolls, it picks up more snow—accruing more snow (and size) with every turn. That's the basic idea behind this word! To accrue means to gather or accumulate something gradually over time. It suggests a steady buildup that often happens automatically or as a natural result of other actions. You might accrue frequent flyer miles just by traveling for work, or interest on a savings account. It can also refer to less pleasant things: debts and penalties can accrue if bills aren't paid on time.
Think of it as building up—slowly but surely! The word comes from the Latin "accrescere," meaning "to grow." So, next time you see something growing or adding up over time, remember: it's accruing.
To accrue means to accumulate or gather something gradually over a period of time. It's heavily used in financial and legal contexts involving things that build up passively or steadily—like benefits, debts, rights, or interest. For example, "Interest accrues on the loan each month," meaning the amount of interest increases periodically. Another example: "She accrued a great deal of wisdom through years of experience."
Unlike "earn," which implies effortful acquisition, accrue emphasizes the mechanism of growth or addition. Frequent flyer miles accrue automatically with each flight you take; vacation days accrue simply based on your tenure at a company.
However, accruing isn't always positive! Debts and penalties can also accrue if you don't meet obligations. "Late fees will accrue until the balance is paid." In formal contexts, rights or benefits are said to "accrue to" an individual—for example, a property owner may see value accrue to their property over time.
Historically, accrue was specific to legal and financial settings, but it has become common in everyday language to describe any kind of gradual accumulation. So, whether you're talking about rewards, debts, knowledge, or rights, if something is building up layer by layer, it's likely accruing.
Examples
- 1
Interest charges
Interest begins to accrue if the bill is not paid on time.
- 2
Work benefits
Vacation days accrue at a rate of two days per month.
- 3
Legal costs
Legal fees can accrue quickly when a dispute goes on for months.
- 4
Rewards points
By the end of the year, she had accrued enough points for a free flight.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Company profits
Most of the profits accrued to the parent company, not the local team.
- Patternaccrue to + person/group
go to them or benefit them
See also
Similar
- accumulate
- build up
- amass
Shades of meaning
Contrast
- diminish
- spend down
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- interest accrues
- benefits accrue to someone
- accrue over time
- costs accrue
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- accrueverb
Forms
- accruedpast tenseverb
- accruing-ing formverb
- accruesverb