Word
accrued
Phoneticsac·crued, stress on the second syllable
US/əˈkɹud/
UK/ɐkɹˈuːd/
Definition
adj. describing an amount of money or a benefit that has built up over time. It is often used for interest or vacation days that you have earned but not used yet.
adj. accumulated or periodically increased over time, especially in a financial or legal context. Often used to describe interest, debts, or employee benefits that have been earned but remain unpaid or unredeemed.
Examples
“I have three weeks of accrued vacation time.”
“The bank calculates the interest daily, but the accrued amount is only paid into the account at the end of the month.”
“Under the terms of the settlement, the plaintiff was entitled to the full principal plus any accrued interest calculated from the date the initial contract was breached.”
Examples
simple
“I have three weeks of accrued vacation time.”
contextual
“The bank calculates the interest daily, but the accrued amount is only paid into the account at the end of the month.”
complex
“Under the terms of the settlement, the plaintiff was entitled to the full principal plus any accrued interest calculated from the date the initial contract was breached.”
Usage
Commonly used as a participial adjective before a noun or after a linking verb like 'be' or 'remain'.
Pitfall
the interest accrued itself
the interest accrued
When used as an adjective or an intransitive verb, 'accrued' does not require a reflexive pronoun.
Real-World Examples
“In total, it has accrued seven nuisance fines.” “It can be accrued through formative years abroad, education, work assignments or exposure to different cultures and business environments," said Qin.” “She said she had lost her entitlements, including accrued annual leave, retirement contributions and her last month of pay.” “Along the way, the company accrued not just economic power, but also social and political power.” - Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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