1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

recurrence

noun

Definition of recurrencenext
as in outbreak
a new occurrence of something that happened or appeared before We hope to prevent a recurrence of the disease.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of recurrence Those patients saw the cancer spread less and fewer cases of recurrence than those that did not receive the vaccine, Sullivan said. — Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026 The injury was a recurrence of an issue that ended Brown’s 2024 season prematurely. — Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 The drug showed promising results in reducing recurrence, which is the cancer coming back. — Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026 Acting National Police Commissioner Yoo Jae-seong apologized and promised measures to prevent a recurrence. — Reuters, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for recurrence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recurrence
  1. outbreak
  2. renewal
  3. burst
  4. recrudescence
Noun
  • Last year, another Legionnaires' outbreak in Harlem killed seven people and sickened dozens of others.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026
  • In the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak, Maya struggles to maintain the beauty and optimism Charlie’s presence brought into her life.
    — Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of outbreak
Noun
  • The three-season renewal comes after The Traitors was already renewed for Season 5, which will premiere next year.
    — Peter White, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The renewal will take the hit show through its eighth season.
    — Joe Otterson, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of renewal
Noun
  • Rollins made a fantastic outside cut and showed elite burst on the play.
    — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The club music that accompanies Claire’s bodybuilder retinue is funny the first time; less so on subsequent bursts.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of burst
Noun
  • This recrudescence of wolf warrior diplomacy is counterproductive and enables Japan to depict China as the bullying hegemon.
    — Jeff Kingston, Time, 30 Nov. 2025
  • Who would benefit from the end of community fluoridation and a recrudescence of tooth decay?
    — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024
Definition of recrudescence

Browse Nearby Words

recurred
recurrence
recurrences
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Recurrence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recurrence. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of volition

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 18
See More

Popular

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
crayons-in-a-circle
Guess the Color Quiz Questions that use the whole box of crayons.
See All