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YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

accrue

Verb

IPA /əˈkruː/

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Meaning in plain English

To increase gradually over time, especially when money, debt or benefits build up.

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Pronunciation

accrue/əˈkruː/

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  1. A small amount at first

  2. Time passes

  3. The amount builds up

Interest can accrue over time: the amount gradually increases.

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Examples in context

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  1. Interest continued to accrue while the money stayed in her account.
  2. The report explains how costs accrue during a long project.

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Interest continued to ________ while the money stayed in her account.
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accrue — To increase gradually over time, especially when money, debt or benefits build up.

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To increase gradually over time, especially when money, debt or benefits build up.

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Word origin

Through Old French, from Latin accrescere, meaning to grow larger.

Did you know?

Interest, costs and benefits are common subjects of accrue.

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accrue

/əˈkruː/ (Verb)

“Accrue is formal. Say interest accrues over time; in everyday speech, builds up is often simpler.”

englishskillstudio.com