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

Here, references to bears (in Bruin’s name, Colin’s fur suit, and Doane’s favorite hockey team), the talismanic power of household appliances, and the sunken earth keep recurring. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 3 June 2026

Such divisions shaped the critical reception of her work, with feminine and delicate being recurring adjectives. —Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 2 June 2026

After his two-season run as Norman Wilson, Mayor Carcetti's campaign manager, Cathey eventually had a recurring role as Freddy on House of Cards, winning an Emmy for his role in 2015. —Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 2 June 2026

Meanwhile, next-generation security annual recurring revenue (ARR) increased 60% year over year, or 28% when excluding the two deals. —Jeff Marks, CNBC, 2 June 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