occurrence

noun

oc·​cur·​rence ə-ˈkər-ən(t)s 

-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

Synonyms

• affair
• circumstance
• episode
• event
• hap
• happening
• incident
• occasion
• thing

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

Perhaps just as importantly, both shows delivered strong in-ring performances from top to bottom and featured major storyline occurrences, such as Reigns’ return at SummerSlam or Punk’s first singles victory in a decade at Bash in Berlin. —Blake Oestriecher, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2024

People across Earth can expect more frequent and brighter northern lights to grace the sky as the sun nears the height of its 11-year cycle, making electromagnetic activity a more common occurrence. —Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2024

Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter Fans of American Horror Story: Asylum won’t be too scandalized by the cut spanking scene — beyond being a plausible incident, spanking was a common occurrence in the show’s sophomore outing. —Shania Russell, EW.com, 3 Oct. 2024

Graceland is not the only high-profile residence to bring the occurrence to light. —Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 2 Oct. 2024

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

Kids Definition

occurrence

noun

oc·​cur·​rence ə-ˈkər-ən(t)s 

-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