recurrent

adjective

re·cur·rent | \ ri-ˈkər-ənt

, -ˈkə-rənt\

Definition of recurrent

1 : running or turning back in a direction opposite to a former course —used of various nerves and branches of vessels in the arms and legs

2 : returning or happening time after time recurrent complaints

Other Words from recurrent Synonyms & Antonyms Recurrent vs. Recurring More Example Sentences Learn More about recurrent

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Recurrent vs. Recurring

Is there a difference between recurring and recurrent? As is so often the case with nearly identical words, the answer is "yes and no." Both words are most commonly used in the sense "happening time after time." But recurrent, the more commonly-used of the two, tends to appear more often in medical contexts, as in “recurrent fevers” or “recurrent cancer.” It also has a specialized anatomical sense, "running or turning back in a direction opposite to a former course,” as in “a recurrent artery,” that recurring does not share. There are certainly circumstances in which either recurrent or recurring could be used; pain or needs might be described as either recurrent or recurring. But even in such cases, there may be subtle differences which you may wish to pay attention to. Recurrent tends to suggest a coming back of something that has existed before, whereas recurring often implies simply a repeated occurrence.

Examples of recurrent in a Sentence

The loss of innocence is a recurrent theme in his stories. had recurrent problems with the computer for months and finally junked it

Recent Examples on the Web

In a separate trial, Kura is testing the drug in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Kura Oncology reports lymphoma success with cancer drug," 17 June 2019 The form of depression, also known as SAD, is a recurrent major depressive disorder that involves episodes of depression at the same season each year. — Maya Mcdowell, House Beautiful, "8 Ways to Feel Happier at Home When Winter’s Bringing You Down," 15 Feb. 2019 Feng had recently completed his residency at Scripps Clinic in San Diego, during which he had been involved in the care of several dozen patients with a similar profile: recurrent sinus infections, asthma and high eosinophil counts. — Sandra G. Boodman, Washington Post, "Her doctor said she had the flu. It took years to find the real, and strange, illness.," 23 June 2018 Image More than 530,000 children have their tonsils or adenoids removed in the United States each year to prevent recurrent infections and sleep or breathing disorders. — Nicholas Bakalar, New York Times, "Tonsillectomy Risks May Outweigh Benefits," 7 June 2018 Even among advocates of decoupling with China, a recurrent worry is that the current administration isn’t up to the task. — Greg Ip, WSJ, "Trump Didn’t Kill the Global Trade System. He Split It in Two.," 26 Dec. 2018 One recurrent, nightmarish vision features me unknowingly striking a pedestrian with my car and then being prosecuted for leaving the scene of an accident. — WSJ, "Who Read What in 2018: History and Journalism," 10 Dec. 2018 The pattern of gaming behavior may be continuous or episodic and recurrent. — German Lopez, Vox, "Video game addiction is real, rare, and poorly understood," 6 Dec. 2018 One 2016 meta-analysis published in JAMA Psychiatry found MBCT reduced the risk of depression relapse in people with recurrent depression as well as antidepressants did. — Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, "What Meditation Can—and Can’t—Do for Your Health," 11 Sep. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'recurrent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.