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

With Kelly and Mark, the actress, 29, looked back at her time on Riverdale with Mark Consuelos, who joined in season two and enjoyed a recurring role as Hiram Lodge. —Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025

The special also featured photos of other recurring guest stars, including Fred Willard (Hank), who died in 2020; as well as Katherine Helmond (Lois), who died in 2019; and Robert Culp (Warren), who died in 2010. —Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Nov. 2025

Scoops Ahoy Ice Cream Starcourt Mall is a recurring setting in season three, along with the ice cream shop Scoops Ahoy near the food court. —Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Nov. 2025

The bank's analysts cited strong margins and pricing power, growth of recurring revenue and a string of recent earnings beats. —Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 24 Nov. 2025

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