Meaning

(transitive) To bring upon oneself or expose oneself to, especially something inconvenient, harmful, or onerous; to become liable or subject to..

Definitions by Sense

1. (transitive) To bring upon oneself or expose oneself to, especially something inconvenient, harmful, or onerous; to become liable or subject to.
2. (obsolete, transitive) To enter or pass into.
3. (obsolete, intransitive) To fall within a period or scope; to occur; to run into danger.

Example Sentences

Near-synonym: contract (debts, etc.)

Cruelty incurs calamity.

VVherefore I beſeech every one vvhom it may concerne, to put on a ſerious diſplicence, upon theſe occaſions, that they may not incurre this menace of Chriſt, VVoe be unto you that laugh novv, but rather entitle themſelves to this promiſe of the Holy Ghoſt, They ſhall laugh in the latter day.

[T]he master in his wrath may easily incur worse evil himself than he inflicts—[...]

And here it is to be noted that hatred is incurred as well on account of good actions as of bad;

Word Forms

• incurs
• incurring
• incurred
• encur

Synonyms for incur

Related Words

When Should You Use Incur?

Use incur when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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