recurrent

[ri-kur-uhnt, -kuhr-]

adjective

1. that recurs; occurring or appearing again, especially repeatedly or periodically.

   Synonyms: intermittent, persistent, repeated

2. Anatomy.,  turned back so as to run in a reverse direction, as a nerve, artery, branch, etc.

recurrent

/ rɪˈkʌrənt /

adjective

1. happening or tending to happen again or repeatedly

2. anatomy (of certain nerves, branches of vessels, etc) turning back, so as to run in the opposite direction

Other Word Forms

• recurrence noun
• recurrently adverb
• unrecurrent adjective
• unrecurrently adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of recurrent¹

1590–1600; < Latin recurrent- (stem of recurrēns ), present participle of recurrere to run back, equivalent to recurr ( ere ) ( recur ) + -ent- -ent

Example Sentences

Though the recurrent phrase “citizen of the United States” had strong nationalist overtones, perhaps the framers did not mean to codify a one-size-fits-all approach.

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In big cities, he says, such recurrent, wet coughs are commonly triggered by dust and smog, sometimes accompanied by mild bronchospasm.

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Sian Jones, 72, has suffered from recurrent "debilitating" urinary tract infections for more than 50 years, and has lost two premature babies as a result.

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Following this, she was referred to the recurrent miscarriage clinic at The Rosie Hospital in Cambridge where it took 12 weeks to diagnose her with endometriosis and adenomyosis.

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He was stabbed in the stomach on the campaign trail in 2018 and has been having recurrent health problems since.

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Related Words

• frequent 
• intermittent 
• periodic 
• recurring 
• repeated 
• repetitive