incurring

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitive

   The -ing form of incur: bringing something unpleasant, such as a cost or penalty, on yourself.

   Grammar: Takes an object: incurring fees.

   Patterns

   • incurring something

   She avoided incurring extra charges by paying early.

   The firm risks incurring heavy fines.

   Incurring his boss's anger was the last thing he wanted.

2. 2noununcountableformal

   The act of becoming responsible for a cost or suffering a penalty.

   Grammar: Used without an or plural: the incurring of debt.

   Patterns

   • the incurring of something

   The incurring of debt slowed the project.

   Careful budgeting prevents the incurring of penalties.

   The incurring of costs must be approved.

Word forms

Common combinations

incurring costs

Incurring costs without approval is not allowed.

incurring a penalty

He is incurring a penalty for late payment.

incurring debt

Students worry about incurring debt.

incurring expenses

The company is incurring heavy expenses.

incurring wrath

He risked incurring her wrath.

Synonyms and how they differ

suffering

Suffering is wider and can involve any hardship; incurring involves a result of your own action.

sustaining

Sustaining is used for injuries or damage, while incurring is for costs or penalties.

accruing

Accruing means building up gradually, like interest.

running up

Running up is informal and suggests steadily accumulating a bill.

Opposites

Word family

incurred verb

Past form of incur.

incurrence noun

The act of incurring, rare.

recurring adjective

Happening again.

Commonly confused: incurring or occurring? incurring or recurring?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “incurring”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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