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
Blackpink, another K-pop outfit, claims the second-most leaders, with nine — less than one-seventh as many as BTS has accrued over the years.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
Authorities accrue asset forfeiture funds via money and property seized from people during criminal investigations.
—Robert Anglen, AZCentral.com, 7 July 2025
As a result, Japanese walking may be considered more difficult in terms of intensity, while accruing 10,000 steps is more time-consuming.
—Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 4 July 2025
That means ducking unnecessary salaries while also accruing future assets.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for accrue
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Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
Authorities accrue asset forfeiture funds via money and property seized from people during criminal investigations.
—Robert Anglen, AZCentral.com, 7 July 2025
As a result, Japanese walking may be considered more difficult in terms of intensity, while accruing 10,000 steps is more time-consuming.
—Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 4 July 2025
That means ducking unnecessary salaries while also accruing future assets.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 27 June 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 12 Jul. 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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