recur

verb

re·​cur ri-ˈkər 

recurred; recurring

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

Its revenue streams tend to be recurring rather than episodic, unlike those of investment banking and trading. — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 14 July 2026

The winner of Next Pro has already been decided, showrunner Conrad Green confirmed this April, which means the winner will immediately join the recurring Dancing cast, kicking off their first season as a pro this fall. — Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2026

Here’s another original series in which Neill’s role didn’t recur over the entire run but nonetheless made a major impact on the show. — Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 14 July 2026

His content has since expanded to include a universe of original characters, and his profile has also grown via a recurring role on Toronto's Crave sitcom The Office Movers. — Rachel Brodsky, Time, 14 July 2026

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

Rhymes for recur

• chauffeur
• cockspur
• concur
• confer
• defer
• demur
• deter
• hotspur
• incur
• infer
• inter
• jagir

Kids Definition

recur

verb

re·​cur ri-ˈkər 

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 

-ˈkə-rən(t)s

noun

Medical Definition

recur

intransitive verb

re·​cur ri-ˈkər 

recurred; recurring

: to occur again after an interval

a disease likely to recur