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en·coun·ter
in-ˈkau̇n-tər 
en-
encountered; encountering
in-ˈkau̇n-t(ə-)riŋ
en-
1
a
: to meet as an adversary or enemy
b
: to engage in conflict with
2
: to come upon face-to-face
3
: to come upon or experience especially unexpectedly
encounter difficulties
: to meet especially by chance
1
: a meeting between hostile factions or persons : a sudden often violent clash
an encounter between the police and demonstrators
2
a
: a chance meeting
an accidental encounter
b
: a particular kind of meeting or experience with another person
a romantic encounter
3
: a coming into the vicinity of a celestial body
the Martian encounter of a spacecraft
Synonyms
Example Sentences
Verb
We encountered problems early in the project.
The pilot told us that we might encounter turbulence during the flight.
Her suggestion has encountered a lot of opposition.
Noun
a chance encounter with a famous writer
The tour boat had a close encounter with a breeching humpback whale.
There was a violent encounter between fans of the opposing teams.
It was her first encounter with cigarettes.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2023
Lunchables aren’t the only name-brand food product students might encounter at school.
—Emily Heil, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2023
According to Deadline, the new project is based on an original idea from Gustafson, and tells the story of two brothers who operate a gas station in the Nevada desert, who encounter a stranger connected to a mystery involving their family history.
—oregonlive, 15 Mar. 2023
The pair travel by night to avoid the dangerous daytime heat, zip themselves into special protective sleeping bags to rest and encounter kids daring each other to sneak out during daytime curfew.
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Mar. 2023
Why Trust Us? Nurses encounter a level of intense daily stress that most of us will never experience.
—Cailey Lindberg, Good Housekeeping, 15 Mar. 2023
Statistics show just how dangerous driving while Black can be: Traffic stops are one of the most common ways police encounter the public.
—Patrick Gaspard, CNN, 13 Mar. 2023
Sony Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection Maeda added that although action stars of all races encounter similar perceptions, others have been able to genre-jump with more respect and ease.
—Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 13 Mar. 2023
The column, which runs every two weeks, is open to all reporters who encounter unusual words and idioms on their beats.
—Nell Gallogly, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2023
Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2023
The scene bears a striking resemblance to the type of encounter Malcolm stages in her work.
—Sam Adler-bell, The New Republic, 20 Mar. 2023
That encounter became the center of Lee’s extraordinary new Netflix series, Beef (premiering April 6), which is overflowing with both drama and dark comedy.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2023
There's an encounter inside a leviathan fish that has been engineered to house life without feeling the pain of its own decay.
—Amy Brady, Scientific American, 14 Mar. 2023
Having endured and survived her traumatic encounter with David (Scott Shepherd), a religious fanatic and pedophile, Ellie (Bella Ramsey) is determined to find purpose amid so much loss.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 13 Mar. 2023
Few Oregonians like to imagine an encounter with a shark.
—Mark Graves | , oregonlive, 11 Mar. 2023
Here's where to go See Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock and more from Airport Mesa This penultimate scene sets the stage for the main attraction — an up-close encounter with Airport Mesa.
—Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 9 Mar. 2023
At the height of the ’70s women’s lib movement, Hawn endured an awkward encounter with a female reporter for one of the major women’s magazines.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 8 Mar. 2023
See More
Verb
Readers may recall my chance encounter with a young Navajo hiker at the wild rim of the Grand Canyon on a snowy winter night.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2023
Lunchables aren’t the only name-brand food product students might encounter at school.
—Emily Heil, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2023
According to Deadline, the new project is based on an original idea from Gustafson, and tells the story of two brothers who operate a gas station in the Nevada desert, who encounter a stranger connected to a mystery involving their family history.
—oregonlive, 15 Mar. 2023
The pair travel by night to avoid the dangerous daytime heat, zip themselves into special protective sleeping bags to rest and encounter kids daring each other to sneak out during daytime curfew.
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Mar. 2023
Why Trust Us? Nurses encounter a level of intense daily stress that most of us will never experience.
—Cailey Lindberg, Good Housekeeping, 15 Mar. 2023
Statistics show just how dangerous driving while Black can be: Traffic stops are one of the most common ways police encounter the public.
—Patrick Gaspard, CNN, 13 Mar. 2023
Sony Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection Maeda added that although action stars of all races encounter similar perceptions, others have been able to genre-jump with more respect and ease.
—Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 13 Mar. 2023
The column, which runs every two weeks, is open to all reporters who encounter unusual words and idioms on their beats.
—Nell Gallogly, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2023
Noun
An encounter with a cranky elderly Polish woman who speaks no English leads to a job caring for her.
—Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2023
The scene bears a striking resemblance to the type of encounter Malcolm stages in her work.
—Sam Adler-bell, The New Republic, 20 Mar. 2023
That encounter became the center of Lee’s extraordinary new Netflix series, Beef (premiering April 6), which is overflowing with both drama and dark comedy.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2023
There's an encounter inside a leviathan fish that has been engineered to house life without feeling the pain of its own decay.
—Amy Brady, Scientific American, 14 Mar. 2023
Having endured and survived her traumatic encounter with David (Scott Shepherd), a religious fanatic and pedophile, Ellie (Bella Ramsey) is determined to find purpose amid so much loss.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 13 Mar. 2023
Few Oregonians like to imagine an encounter with a shark.
—Mark Graves | , oregonlive, 11 Mar. 2023
Here's where to go See Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock and more from Airport Mesa This penultimate scene sets the stage for the main attraction — an up-close encounter with Airport Mesa.
—Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 9 Mar. 2023
At the height of the ’70s women’s lib movement, Hawn endured an awkward encounter with a female reporter for one of the major women’s magazines.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 8 Mar. 2023
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'encounter.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English encountren, from Anglo-French encuntrer, from Medieval Latin incontrare, from Late Latin incontra toward, from Latin in- + contra against — more at counter
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of encounter was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing encounter
Dictionary Entries Near encounter
Cite this Entry
“Encounter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encounter. Accessed 27 Mar. 2023.
Kids Definition
encounter
1 of 2 verb
en·coun·ter
in-ˈkau̇nt-ər
encountered; encountering
-ˈkau̇nt-ə-riŋ
-ˈkau̇n-triŋ
1
: to engage in a struggle with as an enemy or rival
2
: to come upon face-to-face : meet
3
: to come upon unexpectedly
encountered problems
encounter
2 of 2 noun1
: a clash between enemies or rivals
also
: a very unfriendly meeting
had an encounter with the boss
2
a
: a chance meeting
b
: a meeting face-to-face
More from Merriam-Webster on encounter
Nglish: Translation of encounter for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of encounter for Arabic Speakers
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