recur

verb

re·​cur ri-ˈkər How to pronounce recur (audio)
recurred; recurring

intransitive verb

1
: to have recourse : resort
2
: to go back in thought or discourse
on recurring to my letters of that dateThomas Jefferson
3
a
: to come up again for consideration
b
: to come again to mind
4
: to occur again after an interval : occur time after time
the cancer recurred

Examples of recur in a Sentence

There is only a slight chance that the disease will recur. The same problem keeps recurring.
Recent Examples on the Web The process also included the removal of the piece’s three-inch thick render, which displays three large Apache attack helicopters (a recurring motif in Banksy’s creations). Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2024 This year, lawmakers are assigning a recurring $100 million for new housing units and major repairs and renovation. Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2024 Sipping on Rumor Rose, a recurring donor for amfAR gala which was strategically placed on every table in the seafoam green and peach draped tent, the evening concluded with a serenade by Sting. Erin Michelle Newberg, Vogue, 4 Mar. 2024 People heading into retirement should figure out what their recurring living expenses are for things like food, medical, housing, insurance premiums and what's covered by Social Security and other forms of steady income. Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2024 In their company: a recurring TV composer's psychedelic rock opus, a singer-songwriter's tribute to an Appleton folk legend and the first releases from a couple of very different Milwaukee bands. Journal Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2024 Live strings have become a recurring element across Galantis records, too. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2024 After 15 years of futility, unable to reach through the cloud that enveloped him and let down by a mental health system that could do no better, his brothers and sisters shared their experiences with The Times, knowing so many others were going through the same recurring nightmare. Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024 Years after his young acting career on Baywatch, Momoa landed a recurring part on Game of Thrones. Stephanie Kaloi, Peoplemag, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'recur.' 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

borrowed from Latin recurrere "to run back, return, have recourse (to)," from re- re- + currere "to run" — more at current entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1512, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of recur was circa 1512

Dictionary Entries Near recur

Cite this Entry

“Recur.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recur. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

recur

verb
re·​cur ri-ˈkər How to pronounce recur (audio)
recurred; recurring
1
: to go or come back in thought or discussion
2
: to come again into the mind
3
: to occur or appear again
recurrence
-ˈkər-ən(t)s How to pronounce recur (audio)
-ˈkə-rən(t)s
noun

Medical Definition

recur

intransitive verb
re·​cur ri-ˈkər How to pronounce recur (audio)
recurred; recurring
: to occur again after an interval
a disease likely to recur

More from Merriam-Webster on recur

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