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

This is a recurring injury for Smith, who has missed five of the last nine games due to varying levels of discomfort in his calf. —Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026

His digestive system was wrecked by recurring dysentery and colic, and the calomel prescribed by his doctors only made things worse. —Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026

Winona Ryder is joining Season 3 as a recurring guest star, reuniting with frequent collaborator Burton as well as her Beetlejuice Beetlejuice co-star Ortega and the film’s writers Al Gough and Miles Millar. —Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 23 Feb. 2026

Barbecue lines at La Barbecue and Leroy and Lewis Barbecue double as informal meet-and-greets, while NADC Burger has also become a recurring SXSW stop. —Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 23 Feb. 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