incur
C1Formal, Business, Legal, Official Documentation
Definition
Meaning
To become subject to (something unwelcome, especially a cost or penalty) as a result of one's own actions.
To bring upon oneself (something negative or undesirable, such as debt, expense, displeasure, or liability). The word implies causality and responsibility for the negative consequence.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used with negative outcomes (costs, losses, anger, penalties). Rarely neutral or positive. The subject is typically an entity (person, company, government) whose actions directly lead to the consequence. Implies a formal or official context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling of related words (e.g., 'incurred', 'incurring') follows standard national conventions (double 'r' in British English is optional but common, whereas American English often uses a single 'r' in 'incurred', but both are accepted).
Connotations
Identical in both varieties. Strongly associated with financial, legal, or bureaucratic contexts.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American business and legal English, but common in both varieties within formal registers.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + incur + [Direct Object: noun/noun phrase (cost, debt, penalty)][Subject] + incur + [Direct Object] + [Prepositional Phrase: as a result of/for/through/by]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Incur the ire of someone”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Common in financial reports, contracts, and planning. 'The project incurred significant cost overruns.'
Academic
Used in economics, law, and history papers. 'The policy incurred widespread public opposition.'
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might be used when discussing formal bills or fines. 'I don't want to incur any bank charges.'
Technical
Used in legal, accounting, and insurance contexts to denote formal liability or financial obligation.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The company will incur substantial charges for the data breach.
- He incurred the manager's displeasure by missing the deadline.
- By travelling first-class, you may incur additional expenses.
American English
- The city incurred huge losses from the failed initiative.
- You could incur a penalty for filing your taxes late.
- The policy incurred widespread criticism from experts.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- If you cancel late, you will incur a fee.
- The business incurred small losses last year.
- The decision to expand hastily incurred significant financial risk for the firm.
- Governments that break international law may incur sanctions.
- The clinical trial incurred unexpected liabilities, forcing a re-evaluation of its funding model.
- His inflammatory remarks incurred the enduring wrath of the political establishment.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'IN' (into) + 'CUR' (as in 'occur' or 'current'). You step INTO a CURRENT of debt or trouble. You bring it upon yourself.
Conceptual Metaphor
NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES ARE DEBTS/CHARGES ACCRUED. The subject is metaphorically an 'accumulator' of unwanted burdens.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'случиться' or 'произойти' (to happen). 'Incur' is active, not passive. It's closer to 'навлечь (на себя)', 'понести (расходы)', 'подвергнуться (в результате своих действий)'.
- Do not confuse with 'occur' ('происходить').
Common Mistakes
- Using it for positive outcomes (e.g., 'incur a benefit' is wrong).
- Using it intransitively (e.g., 'The cost incurred' is passive; the active form requires an object: 'We incurred a cost').
- Confusing spelling: 'incurred' vs. 'incured' (correct: double 'r' is standard in past forms).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is the word 'incur' used CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is almost exclusively used for negative or undesirable consequences like costs, debts, penalties, or displeasure.
'Incur' means to bring something (usually bad) upon oneself through one's actions. 'Occur' simply means to happen or take place, with no implication of causation by the subject.
Yes, it is most common in formal, business, legal, and official contexts. In everyday speech, people might use simpler phrases like 'end up paying for', 'get charged for', or 'face'.
The most common pattern is Subject + Incur + Direct Object (e.g., 'incur costs'). It can also be used in the passive voice (e.g., 'costs were incurred'). It is not used with an indirect object (e.g., you cannot 'incur someone something').