# accrued

/əˈkɹud/ (US) · /ɐkɹˈuːd/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/accrued
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "the interest accrued itself" but "the interest accrued" — When used as an adjective or an intransitive verb, 'accrued' does not require a reflexive pronoun.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used as a participial adjective before a noun or after a linking verb like 'be' or 'remain'.

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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.