accrual

1 of 2

noun

ac·​cru·​al ə-ˈkrü-əl How to pronounce accrual (audio)
Synonyms of accrualnext
1
: the action or process of accruing something
money gained by the accrual of interest
2
: something that accrues or has accrued
an employee's vacation accruals

accrual

2 of 2

adjective

: relating to or being a method of accounting that recognizes income when earned and expenses when incurred regardless of when cash is received or disbursed (see disburse sense 1a) compare cash entry 2

Synonyms of accrual

Relevance

Noun

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Examples of accrual in a Sentence

Noun had an accrual of $100 through interest on my savings account last year
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
And basically you’re allowed to not work for a while and spend down your accrual of points and still get coverage. — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 11 Mar. 2026 These structures help to reduce or eliminate the impact of the annual tax drag on unrealized inflation accruals and cash flow mismatch, allowing the investor to capture more of the benefit of inflation protection. — Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026
Adjective
And basically you’re allowed to not work for a while and spend down your accrual of points and still get coverage. — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 11 Mar. 2026 The number to track in the coming disclosures is the non-accrual rate, the share of loans where the borrower has stopped paying. — Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for accrual

Word History

Etymology

Noun

accrue + -al entry 2

Adjective

derivative of accrual entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1804, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1912, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of accrual was in 1804

Rhymes for accrual

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Browse Nearby Words

accroides
accrual
accrue
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Cite this Entry

“Accrual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accrual. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Legal Definition

accrual

noun
ac·​cru·​al ə-ˈkrü-əl How to pronounce accrual (audio)
1
: the action or process of accruing
claim must be brought within two years of the date of accrual
2
a
: something that accrues
especially : an amount of money that periodically accumulates for a specific purpose (as payment of taxes or interest)
b
: something that has accrued during a specified period

More from Merriam-Webster on accrual

Nglish: Translation of accrual for Spanish Speakers

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