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 of occurrence

• event
• incident
• circumstance
• 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

Tropical Storm Senyar formed just north of the equator in the Strait of Malacca, the waterway between Indonesia’s Sumatra and the Malaysian peninsula – a rare occurrence that may have helped magnify the disaster as communities there weren’t used to experiencing cyclones, Tangang said. —Helen Regan, CNN Money, 6 Dec. 2025

Of course, light blue’s sudden domination in winter collections and TikTok videos is not some random occurrence. —Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 5 Dec. 2025

But in the meanwhile, Barnes found the occurrence sweet, with a poignant thread of commonality to his own life as a gay man. —Mikelle Street, Them., 4 Dec. 2025

Büntgen added that while such a unique set of cascading effects may sound like a rare occurrence, the chances may be increasing due to climate change . —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 4 Dec. 2025

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

Rhymes for occurrence

• concurrence
• deterrence
• incurrence
• recurrence
• transference
• coinsurance
• countertransference

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