What does incur mean?
Word: Incur
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Incur means to have to pay or face something unwelcome because of what you have done.
Word origin: From Latin incurrere.
How do you spell incur?
Syllables: in - cur
Tricky part: Students who know incurred and incurring carry the double r back to the base word and write incurr. It has only one r until an ending is added.
Watch out for: incurr, incurre, incurrs
Memory tip: Think short: five letters and one r, until an ending such as ed comes along.
Incur in a sentence
Example 1: The club will incur extra costs if the hall is booked for a second day.
Example 2: Players who argue with the umpire may incur a penalty.
Example 3: Arjun did not want to incur his coach's displeasure by arriving late.
Fun Fact
The Latin verb inside it, currere, to run, also gave English the words current, courier and excursion.
Practise the CREST Way
Spellacadabra
Choose the option in which the following letters will fit in the given order:
i, u
a) _cc_r
b) c_nf_r
c) d_t_r
d) _nc_r
Show answer
d) _nc_r. Occur takes o before the u, while confer and deter take other pairs, which leaves this verb.
Word Champ
Choose the correct word for the blank:
If you return the library book late, you will ___ a fine of ten rupees.
a) induce
b) incur
c) infer
d) indent
Show answer
b) incur. A fine is something unwelcome that you bring on yourself, which fits only this verb.
Word Puzzle
Match each word with its meaning:
1. incur 2. concur 3. recur a. to have the same opinion as someone b. to happen again c. to land yourself with an unwanted burden
a) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
b) 1-a, 2-b, 3-c
c) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
d) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
Show answer
a) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b. The prefix helps: re means again and con means together, which leaves the burden for incur.
Sound Check
Which word does not rhyme with incur?
a) occur
b) secure
c) deter
d) prefer
Show answer
b) secure. Secure ends like pure; the other three end in the sound of fur.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A travel company says that late changes will incur a charge. What happens if you change your ticket late?
a) you will have to pay extra
b) your trip will become shorter
c) you will be given a free seat
d) your bags will travel first
Show answer
a) you will have to pay extra
2. Which of these can a person incur?
a) a warm welcome
b) a lucky prize
c) a heavy repair bill
d) a free meal
Show answer
c) a heavy repair bill
