incur Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb make oneself subject to; bring upon oneself; become liable to
    • People who smoke incur a great danger to their health
  2. verb receive a specified treatment (abstract)
    receive; obtain; find; get.
    • These aspects of civilization do not find expression or receive an interpretation
    • His movie received a good review
    • I got nothing but trouble for my good intentions

WordNet

In*cur" transitive verb
Etymology
L. incurrere to run into or toward; pref. in- in + currere to run. See Current.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Incurred ; present participle & verbal noun Incurring
Definitions
  1. To meet or fall in with, as something inconvenient, harmful, or onerous; to put one's self in the way of; to expose one's self to; to become liable or subject to; to bring down upon one's self; to encounter; to contract; as, to incur debt, danger, displeasure penalty, responsibility, etc.
    I know not what I shall incur to pass, Having no warrant. Shak.
  2. To render liable or subject to; to occasion. Obs.
    Lest you incur me much more damage in my fame than you have done me pleasure in preserving my life. Chapman.
In*cur" intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To pass; to enter. Obs.
    Light is discerned by itself because by itself it incurs into the eye. South.

Webster 1913