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

Users can then ask follow-up questions to compare their spending with previous months, identify recurring payments or check how much money will remain before their next payday. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026

Explain one recurring responsibility clearly, then let someone take ownership of it. — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2026

Last weekend, the company celebrated its first year partnering with Nike, following the end of its 10-year contract with Adidas, which manifested in a recurring collaboration alongside other ad-hoc partnerships. — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2026

In an era of recurring shocks, the economies that prepare before the next disruption will be best placed not just to endure it, but to emerge stronger. — Jihad Azour, semafor.com, 5 Nov. 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