recur

verb

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

intransitive verb

1
: to occur or appear again
the cancer recurred
a problem that keeps recurring
2
: to come again to mind
One of the staffer's comments, however, keeps recurring to me.—Kevin R. Kosar
3
: to have recourse : resort
… are no longer willing to recur to Congress to repeal unconstitutional laws …—Joe Wolverton
4
: to go back in thought or discourse
… on recurring to my letters of that date …—Thomas Jefferson

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In a recurring image, Sol and Luna seesaw on a foam mountain, rising and falling in turn as the days and centuries flow by below. — Mark Asch, Variety, 29 Oct. 2026 Park rangers also conduct patrols during busy hours, working with police to increase their presence at locations with recurring problems. — Data Reporter, Austin American Statesman, 29 Oct. 2026 Repetition is the governing principle throughout the record, from the recurring melodic figures to Sundfør’s own invocations. — Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 28 Oct. 2026 Moore lives with chronic spontaneous urticaria, or CSU, in which hives, deeper swelling or both can recur for more than six weeks without a consistent, identifiable external trigger. — Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 28 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for recur

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 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of recur was circa 1512

Rhymes for recur

See All Rhymes for recur

Browse Nearby Words

recuperatory
recur
recure
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Recur.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recur. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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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

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for recur

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