incur expenses

Meaning

To 'incur expenses' means to experience or become liable for costs as a result of your actions or business operations. It is a formal way of saying 'run up costs' or 'have to pay for something' in professional, accounting, or legal contexts.

Examples

• Employees will be reimbursed for any business travel expenses they incur during the trip.

  Employees will be reimbursed for any business travel expenses they incur during the trip.

• The company is likely to incur significant legal expenses if the lawsuit goes to trial.

  The company is likely to incur significant legal expenses if the lawsuit goes to trial.

• Please keep all your receipts to prove the exact expenses you incurred.

  Please keep all your receipts to prove the exact expenses you incurred.

• Our department managed to complete the project without incurring any unnecessary expenses.

  Our department managed to complete the project without incurring any unnecessary expenses.

• Any expenses incurred during the relocation process will be covered by the relocation package.

  Any expenses incurred during the relocation process will be covered by the relocation package.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We occurred many expenses during our business trip.

  ✓ We incurred many expenses during our business trip.

  Learners frequently confuse 'occur' (to happen) with 'incur' (to bring upon oneself/become liable for). You cannot 'occur' expenses.

• ✗ The department made many expenses last month.

  ✓ The department incurred many expenses last month.

  Do not use 'make' with 'expenses.' The natural business collocation is to 'incur expenses' or 'accrue expenses.'

Related Expressions

Practice

• You should avoid ___ that are not pre-approved by your manager.

  💡 bringing costs upon yourself

  Show answer

  incurring expenses

• Our startup is careful not to ___ unnecessary ___ in its first year.

  💡 run up costs

  Show answer

  incur expenses