Word: Accrue
Part of Speech: Verb
Basic Meaning: To "accrue" means to gradually come into possession of something, often over time. It can refer to things like money, benefits, or even knowledge that slowly builds up.
Usage Instructions:
"Accrue" is often used in financial contexts but can also apply to other areas where something accumulates over time.
It is typically used in the present tense (e.g., "The interest accrues") but can also appear in different tenses (e.g., "accrued" for past tense).
Examples:
Financial Context: "If you save money in a bank account, your interest will accrue over the years."
Benefits Context: "Employees may accrue vacation days based on their time worked."
Knowledge Context: "As you read more, your understanding of the subject will accrue."
Advanced Usage:
Word Variants:
Accrued (adjective): Refers to something that has been accumulated or built up. Example: "The accrued interest on your loan will be added to your total balance."
Accrual (noun): The act of accruing or the amount that has accrued. Example: "The accrual of interest can significantly increase the total amount owed."
Different Meanings:
Financial: Mostly used in relation to money, interest, or debts.
General Growth: Can also imply a gradual increase in non-financial areas, like skills or experiences.
Synonyms:
Accumulate
Build up
Gather
Amass
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:
There aren't specific idioms directly using "accrue," but you might encounter phrases like "accrue benefits" or "accrue interest" commonly in financial discussions.
A related phrasal verb is "build up," which can mean to increase or accumulate over time, though it's not a direct synonym.
Summary:
To "accrue" means to gradually gain or accumulate something over time, often used in financial contexts but applicable in other areas as well.