# incur

/ˌɪnˈkɝ/ (US) · /ɪnkˈɜː/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. to become liable for costs

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

to become responsible for paying a cost or a debt.

For teachers: to become liable for a debt, expense, or penalty through one's actions. Transitive — requires a direct object such as 'costs', 'debt', or 'fees'.

- You will incur a small fee if you pay your bill late.
- The company incurred significant legal expenses during the three-year patent dispute, which ultimately impacted their annual profit margins.

Usage: Commonly collocates with financial nouns like 'debt', 'expense', 'cost', or 'loss'.

### 2. to bring upon oneself

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to experience something negative, like someone's anger or a bad reputation, because of what you did.

For teachers: to bring something undesirable, such as criticism or hostility, upon oneself. Transitive — usually takes an abstract noun as an object.

- His rude comments incurred the anger of his teammates.
- The minister's controversial decision incurred the wrath of the public and led to widespread protests across the capital.

Usage: Often used with abstract nouns like 'wrath', 'displeasure', 'criticism', or 'dislike'.

## Examples

- You will incur a small fee if you pay your bill late.
- The company had to incur significant legal expenses to defend its patents in court.
- By failing to comply with the new environmental regulations, the factory owners risk incurring heavy fines and the public's disapproval.

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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.