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 the debut swing at a recurring monthly slot, which is part of why the matchmaking is this aggressive out of the gate. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

TreeSize’s evolution illustrates the growing subscription economy, particularly the software industry’s fixation on recurring revenue. — Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 21 July 2026

In his videos, he’s backed by an ensemble cast of recurring friends, family members and other creators. — Todd Spangler, Variety, 21 July 2026

This packed a certain richness, given how Walz’s military record—or his overstatement of it—created its own recurring migraine for Harris. — Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 20 July 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