accrue

verb

ac·​crue ə-ˈkrü 

accrued; accruing

intransitive verb

1

: to come into existence as a legally enforceable claim

2

a

: to come about as a natural growth, increase, or advantage

the wisdom that accrues with age

b

: to come as a direct result of some state or action

rewards due to the feminine will accrue to me

—Germaine Greer

3

: to accumulate or be added periodically

interest accrues on a daily basis

transitive verb

: to accumulate or have due after a period of time

accrue vacation time

accruable

ə-ˈkrü-ə-bəl 

adjective

accruement

ə-ˈkrü-mənt 

noun

Examples of accrue in a Sentence

I'll get back all the money I invested, plus any interest and dividends that have accrued.

investments that have accrued interest and dividends

Recent Examples on the Web

Up to $20,000 accrued from unpaid interest after borrowers began repaying their student loans would be canceled, though some lower-income borrowers can qualify for more. —Byjason Ma, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2024

For someone facing high-interest debt, the immediate priority might be to reduce this burden to avoid accruing excessive interest. —True Tamplin, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024

Since January, the airline has had an agreement with El Al so passengers can accrue frequent flier miles. —Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2024

Sheep tags not sold at conservation auctions are often sold instead by outfitters, with very little habitat or management benefit accrued to the species. —Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 13 Mar. 2024

The track has accrued more than 7.7 million Spotify streams and become a fan favorite at his shows. —Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2024

Elliott vowed to appeal the judgment — and related costs continued to accrue interest. —Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2024

An unrestricted free agent is someone who has accrued four or more NFL seasons upon their contract expiring. —Thomas Schlachter, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024

Because of that glowing history, and the monetary value that has accrued over the years to things that are desirably florescent, gold has come to serve as a sort of last-resort investment the world over. —Melvin Backman, Quartz, 8 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English acrewen, acruwen, probably borrowed from Anglo-French *acreue "increase," noun derivative from feminine of acreu, past participle of acreistre "to increase, grow," going back to Latin accrēscere, from ad- ad- + crēscere "to grow" — more at crescent entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

accrue

verb

ac·​crue ə-ˈkrü 

accrued; accruing

1

: to come about as a natural growth or addition

benefits accrue to society from education

2

: to accumulate over a period of time

accrued interest

accrual

-ˈkrü-əl

noun

Legal Definition

accrue

verb

ac·​crue ə-ˈkrü 

accrued; accruing

intransitive verb

1

: to come into existence as an enforceable claim : vest as a right

action…does not accrue until the plaintiff knew or reasonably should have known that he may have suffered injury

—National Law Journal

Note: Statutes of limitations begin to run when a cause of action accrues.

2

: to come by way of increase or addition : arise as a growth or result

—usually used with to or from

advantages accruing to society from the freedom of the press

interest accrues to the seller as a result of the delay

3

: to be periodically accumulated in the process of time whether as an increase or a decrease

the accruing of taxes

allowing the receivable interest to accrue

transitive verb

1

: to accumulate or have due after a period of time

authorized by law to accrue leave in the maximum amount of 90 days

2

: to enter in the books as an accrual

Etymology

Middle French accreue increase, addition to a property, from feminine of accreu, past participle of acreistre to increase