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

But the movie and Chalamet still got plenty of airtime as well as online discussion, as Timothée Chalamet’s comments about opera and ballet became a recurring theme of the night. —Carolyn Burt, Oc Register, 16 Mar. 2026

Under the agreement, Adobe must clearly and conspicuously disclose recurring charges and cancellation fees before accepting consumers’ billing information. —Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026

The Last of Us is gearing up for a major Season 3—and possibly its last— with promotions for Ariela Barer, Tati Gabrielle, and Spencer Lord, as well as the official additions of Jason Ritter (Matlock) and Patrick Wilson (Watchmen) in recurring roles. —Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 16 Mar. 2026

Large cash-outs for departing state workers with hundreds of hours of time off on the books have been a recurring issue in California. —Melody Gutierrez, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 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