incur

Intermediatezipf 3.30

Pronunciation

/ɪnˈkɜːr/(in-KUR)

Part of speech

verbformal

Chinese

招致；遭受；引起（多指不良后果）

Definition

To become subject to something unpleasant as a result of one's actions; to bring upon oneself.

Word family

  • (no common derivatives)

Collocations

  • incur costs
  • incur debt
  • incur a penalty
  • incur losses
  • incur wrath
  • incur expenses

Examples

  1. 1.The company incurred significant legal costs fighting the patent infringement case. (bring upon oneself)
  2. 2.Late payments will incur a penalty of 5% per month. (result in)

Synonyms

  • sustain/səˈsteɪn/— to suffer or experience — formal
  • suffer/ˈsʌfər/— to experience something unpleasant
  • accrue/əˈkruː/— to accumulate over time — for costs/benefits

Etymology

from Latin "incurrere" (to run into) — in- (toward) + currere (to run) — running into trouble