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

Most of the games Gordon has missed this season have been the result of a recurring right hamstring strain. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2026

Many use one service to send emails to fans, another for websites, another to upload shows, another for subscriptions or recurring donations, and so on. —Max Tani, semafor.com, 30 Mar. 2026

Wolk, whose recent credits include Watchmen and The Boys in the Boat, will next be seen in a recurring role on The Shards, FX’s upcoming drama series adaptation of the Bret Easton Ellis novel, produced by Ryan Murphy. —Denise Petski, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2026

Gano’s lack of availability became a recurring problem for the Giants, as the veteran was limited to 23 out of a possible 51 games from 2023-25 and was compromised in several others. —Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 30 Mar. 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