accrue

verb

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ac·crue | \ ə-ˈkrü

accrued; accruing

Definition of accrue

intransitive verb

1 : to come into existence as a legally enforceable claim

2a : 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

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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 Projects can also earn additional credits over time as the trees grow and absorb CO2, but those credits accrue slowly, and are dwarfed by the initial credits given to forests with more carbon than the regional average. — ProPublica, "The Climate Solution Actually Adding Millions of Tons of CO2 Into the Atmosphere," 4 May 2021 Magyar can continue to accrue up to five comp days a year for hours worked beyond the regular workday. — Bob Sandrick, cleveland, "Brecksville-Broadview Heights school board votes 3-2 to keep Joelle Magyar as superintendent," 27 Apr. 2021 On Cookpad, contributors are usually just cooking for themselves, rather than trying to accrue enormous followings or accommodate other people’s preferences. — New York Times, "With No Frills or Celebrities, Cookpad Is a Global Go-To for Recipes," 26 Apr. 2021 Similar to its meals with other artists, the BTS Meal includes already existing menu items and two new sauces that are easy to accrue and include. — Jordan Valinsky, CNN, "McDonald's new BTS meal is coming, featuring flavors you weren't able to get in the US," 19 Apr. 2021 The goodwill generated by this gesture would accrue to her boss, the CEO, which was Emily’s intention and, in fact, her job. — Molly Young, Curbed, "The Subtle Art of the Executive Assistant," 26 Apr. 2021 As law professor and former Demos think tank president K. Sabeel Rahman has noted, the primary concern of anti-monopoly thinkers in the early twentieth century was that too much power would accrue in private hands. — Sarah Leonard, The New Republic, "How Amazon Exploited a Weakened America," 2 Apr. 2021 Meanwhile, the nation’s trauma continues to accrue in a way unparalleled in recent American life, said Donna Schuurman of the Dougy Center for Grieving Children & Families in Portland, Oregon. — Adam Geller, chicagotribune.com, "US death toll from COVID-19 at the brink of half a million lives — a milestone that does not come close to capturing the heartbreak," 22 Feb. 2021 Meanwhile, the nation’s trauma continues to accrue in a way unparalleled in recent American life, said Donna Schuurman of the Dougy Center for Grieving Children & Families in Portland, Oregon. — Adam Geller, BostonGlobe.com, "US COVID-19 deaths at brink of 500,000, confirming virus’ tragic reach," 22 Feb. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'accrue.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

11 May 2021

Cite this Entry

“Accrue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accrue. Accessed 12 May. 2021.

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More Definitions for accrue

accrue

verb

English Language Learners Definition of accrue

formal

: to increase in value or amount gradually as time passes : to grow or build up slowly

: to come to or be given to someone

See the full definition for accrue in the English Language Learners Dictionary

accrue

verb

ac·crue | \ ə-ˈkrü

accrued; accruing

Legal Definition of accrue

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