# accrue

> English word · Verb · IPA /əˈkɹuː/ · frequency rank #32,264

## Definitions
1. To increase, to rise
2. To reach or come to by way of increase; to arise or spring up because of growth or result, especially as the produce of money lent.
3. To be incurred as a result of the passage of time.
4. To accumulate.
5. To become an enforceable and permanent right.

## Etymology
First attested in mid 15th century. From Middle English acrewen, borrowed from Old French acreüe, past participle of accreistre (“to increase”), from Latin accrēsco (“increase”), from ad (“in addition”) + crēscō (“to grow”).

## Easily confused with
- **acre** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/accrue-vs-acre)
- **accuse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/accrue-vs-accuse)
- **accrued** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/accrue-vs-accrued)
- **Accra** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/accra-vs-accrue)

## Common misspellings (6)
`accreu`, `accrrue`, `accure`, `acrcue`, `acrue`, `cacrue`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/accrue