as in to accumulate
to increase in amount as time passes
They accrued vacation time throughout the calendar year. A penny-pincher who is accruing a fortune by spending next to nothing.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of accrue
The website began to acquire a cultlike, word-of-mouth following, especially in Europe, accruing 40,000 members by 2009.
—
Will Tavlin, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025
Here are the top five luckiest states, as well as the total amount of lottery winnings each one accrued over the past five holiday seasons.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025
Kerr had his player’s back after the suspension, which was caused by Green accruing his fourth flagrant foul point.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 23 Dec. 2025
Interest began accruing in August.
—Cory Turner, NPR, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for accrue
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accrue
Verb
-
Points will accumulate for 10 straight races in the playoffs, so technically a driver could clinch a championship before the final race was ever run.—
-
This friction causes the surface of the lens to accumulate and store a large amount of negative static electricity.—
Verb
-
Plus, there are a handful of interior pockets to maximize your organization, and a zippered top keeps everything secure, which is always a win in our books.—
-
First, the port proved surprisingly adaptable, maximizing efficiency and maintaining its relationships with shipping companies.—
Verb
-
The following burglaries are from reports collected from the Little Rock Police Department.—
-
Since then, she's collected 45 years' worth of passport stamps, crossing off destinations like Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Thailand, Bhutan, Morocco, and Kenya on her travel wish list.—
Cite this Entry
“Accrue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accrue. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
