recurrence

noun

re·​cur·​rence ri-ˈkər-ən(t)s How to pronounce recurrence (audio)
-ˈkə-rən(t)s
plural recurrences
: a new occurrence of something that happened or appeared before : a repeated occurrence
Scientists are working to lower the disease's rate of recurrence.
Long-term drug therapy is associated with frequent recurrences and adverse effects, however.Melvin M. Scheinman
The hypoallergenic diet is restored until the itching and scratching again disappear, following which potential allergens from the original diet are restored sequentially, one by one, into the dog's meals and the owner looks for indications of the allergy's recurrence.Tom Ewing
As a familiar shape its exact meaning may have been lost to some of the craftsmen who used it; however, its recurrence on a whole group of gravestones in Davidson County, North Carolina, suggests an association there with hope, rebirth, and the cycle of life and death.Jessie Poesch
The shortage is a result of a decline in Treasury issuance as well as banks' strengthening their balance sheets in preparation for rules designed to prevent a recurrence of the 2008 financial crisis.Peter Coy and Liz Capo McCormick

Examples of recurrence in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In addition to the potential aftereffects of treatment, all cancer survivors have to deal with other concerns such as the continuing fear of recurrence. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025 Regular care helps your doctor recognize the first signs of recurrence and begin treatment right away. Carrie Madormo, Health, 31 Aug. 2025 Lung adenocarcinoma often has late detection and high recurrence rates after treatment. Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025 His team is currently running a randomized Phase 2 trial to test the durability of the vaccine and compare whether the vaccine is more effective than the standard of care, which would usually be monitoring the patient for a recurrence. Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 11 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for recurrence

Word History

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of recurrence was in 1626

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Cite this Entry

“Recurrence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recurrence. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Medical Definition

recurrence

noun
1
: return of symptoms of a disease after a remission
2
: reappearance of a tumor after previous removal

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