# accrue

/əˈkɹu/ (US) · /ɐkɹˈuː/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/accrue
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

to increase slowly over time. In business, it means to earn or receive money or benefits that you have not yet collected.

For teachers: to accumulate or increase gradually over a period of time. In a financial context, it refers to the process of earning interest or benefits that have not yet been paid or realized.

## Examples

- The interest on the loan will accrue every month.
- The company allows employees to accrue vacation days based on the number of hours they work each year.
- As the project progressed, the legal team noted that the costs would continue to accrue until the final settlement was reached, regardless of the initial budget.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.