accrued; accruing
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
Germaine Greer3
: to accumulate or be added periodically
interest accrues on a daily basis
: to accumulate or have due after a period of time
accrue vacation time
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
This bias weakened over time, as the theory came to have more distance from the Trump administration, and more suggestive bits of circumstantial evidence accrued.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 20 May 2025
The Bruins have accrued more than $200 million in losses in the last six years, amid a move to the Big Ten.
—Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 20 May 2025
In the same vein, after being crowned the winner of season 4 in 2005, Underwood has accrued the most nominations and wins of any American Idol winner, according to the Recording Academy.
—Emily Weaver, People.com, 19 May 2025
Earlier this year, after failing to meet its own October deadline for the rebate’s relaunch, the government passed a measure allowing producers to claim expenses accrued in the final months of 2024 and the start of 2025.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for accrue
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Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 20 May 2025
The Bruins have accrued more than $200 million in losses in the last six years, amid a move to the Big Ten.
—Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 20 May 2025
In the same vein, after being crowned the winner of season 4 in 2005, Underwood has accrued the most nominations and wins of any American Idol winner, according to the Recording Academy.
—Emily Weaver, People.com, 19 May 2025
Earlier this year, after failing to meet its own October deadline for the rebate’s relaunch, the government passed a measure allowing producers to claim expenses accrued in the final months of 2024 and the start of 2025.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for accrue
Cite this Entry
“Accrue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accrue. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
noun
-ˈkrü-əl
Legal Definition
accrue
verb
ac·crue
ə-ˈkrü
accrued; accruing
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
National Law JournalNote: 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
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
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