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

Why this eclipse is drawing attention Total solar eclipses occur somewhere on Earth only about once every 18 months, making them among the rarest recurring celestial events. — Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026

Bailey Taylor, one of the newest recurring cast members on Bravo’s Summer House, has signed with Gersh for representation in all areas. — Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 11 Aug. 2026

The legendary Singin’ in the Rain star also had a recurring role on Will & Grace, voiced characters on Family Guy and The Penguins of Madagascar, and appeared in One for the Money (2012) and Behind the Candelabra (2013). — Madeline Boardman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Aug. 2026

Once an officer links a recurring signature to a license plate record or case file, the absence of a name in the original signal offers little protection. — Nicole M. Bennett, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 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