occurrence

noun

oc·​cur·​rence ə-ˈkər-ən(t)s How to pronounce occurrence (audio)
-ˈkə-rən(t)s
1
: something that occurs
a startling occurrence
Lightning is a natural occurrence.
2
: the action or fact of happening or occurring
often used with of
the repeated occurrence of petty theft in the locker room
Choose the Right Synonym for occurrence

occurrence, event, incident, episode, circumstance mean something that happens or takes place.

occurrence may apply to a happening without intent, volition, or plan.

an encounter that was a chance occurrence

event usually implies an occurrence of some importance and frequently one having antecedent cause.

the events following the assassination

incident suggests an occurrence of brief duration or secondary importance.

a minor wartime incident

episode stresses the distinctiveness or apartness of an incident.

a brief romantic episode in a life devoted to work

circumstance implies a specific detail attending an action or event as part of its setting or background.

couldn't recall the exact circumstances

Examples of occurrence in a Sentence

Getting headaches has become a common occurrence for her. the recent occurrences of the disease Lightning is a natural occurrence.
Recent Examples on the Web The final occurrence at Del Rio Port of Entry in Texas occurred on Sunday morning at approximately 7 a.m. when CBP officers encountered a passenger vehicle driven by a female United States citizen arriving from Mexico and the driver presented a U.S. birth certificate for a minor female, said CBP. Jon Haworth, ABC News, 20 Mar. 2024 Temperatures even soared to 80 degrees by late January, the earliest occurrence on record. Aileen Graef, CNN, 17 Mar. 2024 Exposure on TikTok has led to jobs writing freelance pieces and contributing to documentaries about paranormal occurrences and unsolved mysteries. Leah Willingham, Fortune, 16 Mar. 2024 The protest is the most recent occurrence of climate activists targeting the arts. Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2024 Astronomy improved though, and by the beginning of the A.D. 7th century, astronomers were more accurately predicting the occurrence of solar eclipses. 2. Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 11 Mar. 2024 The hazy occurrence will take place once every millennium, with the next falling on 4/20/3024. Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 11 Mar. 2024 Used to celebrate the iconic doll created by Mattel, the yearly occurrence brings back a feeling of childhood nostalgia. Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 9 Mar. 2024 But prior to that vote Democrats across the hall in the Senate chamber largely opposed the bill, an uncommon occurrence. Brittany Carloni, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'occurrence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

occurr(ent) entry 1 + -ence, perhaps after Middle French occurrence "circumstance"

First Known Use

1539, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of occurrence was in 1539

Dictionary Entries Near occurrence

Cite this Entry

“Occurrence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/occurrence. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

occurrence

noun
oc·​cur·​rence ə-ˈkər-ən(t)s How to pronounce occurrence (audio)
-ˈkə-rən(t)s
1
: something that occurs
2
: the action or process of occurring
3
: the presence of a natural form or material in a particular place
the occurrence of oil in Oklahoma

Legal Definition

occurrence

noun
oc·​cur·​rence
: something that takes place
especially : an accident, event, or continuing condition that causes personal or property damage that is unintended or unexpected from the standpoint of an insured party making a claim

More from Merriam-Webster on occurrence

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