recur

verb

re·​cur ri-ˈkər 

recurred; recurring

intransitive verb

1

: to have recourse : resort

2

: to go back in thought or discourse

on recurring to my letters of that date

—Thomas Jefferson

3

a

: to come up again for consideration

b

: to come again to mind

4

: to occur again after an interval : occur time after time

the cancer recurred

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

Over 90% of its revenue is recurring, and just 20% of possible clients have adopted the fintech’s services. —Jacob Wolinsky, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025

In addition to Bethel, Carradine, and Kelly, Rome Flynn, Ana Ortiz, and Sherri Saum will also recur. —Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 23 May 2025

Phoenix went through a difficult time at age 9 in 2015, when the leukemia recurred. —Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025

Over the last few decades, Perlman reunited with Cheers costar Kirstie Alley as a main cast member on Kirstie (2013–2014) and recurred on The Mindy Project (2014–2017). —Randall Colburn, EW.com, 21 May 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 1

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