incurring
noun
Incurring — the act of bringing an undesirable consequence upon oneself
Definition
Acquiring or coming into something (usually undesirable); "incurring debts is easier than paying them"
In depth
Incurring is the act of acquiring or coming into something, usually undesirable, such as debt, risk, expense, or penalty, the word capturing the sense of bringing a negative consequence upon oneself, often as the unavoidable byproduct of some other action or decision. Unlike 'catching' or 'contracting,' the word extends well beyond illness to any unwanted acquisition.
Origin
The word descends from Latin incurrere, to run into or fall upon, formed from in- (into) and currere (to run). That underlying image of running directly into something, rather than passively receiving it, gives the word its particular sense of a consequence brought about, however unintentionally, through one's own course of action.
Usage examples
"Incurring debts is easier than most young people initially realize, the consequences arriving only gradually."
"The company risked incurring significant penalties by failing to meet the regulatory deadline."
"She accepted the risk of incurring her father's disapproval, certain the decision was still the right one."
How to use it
Incurring is broadly useful across financial, legal, and general writing, particularly common in describing the acquisition of debt, risk, expense, or penalty, distinct from its narrower medical near-synonyms.
Related concepts
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