coincide
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to occupy the same place in space, the same point or period in time, or the same relative position.
The centers of concentric circles coincide. Our vacations coincided this year.
-
to correspond exactly, as in nature, character, etc..
His vocation coincides with his avocation.
-
to agree or concur, as in thought or opinion.
Their opinions always coincide.
- Antonyms:
- contradict, differ
verb
-
to occur or exist simultaneously
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to be identical in nature, character, etc
-
to agree
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of coincide
First recorded in 1635–45; from Medieval Latin coincidere, from Latin co- co- + incidere “to fall upon, befall” ( see incident)
Explanation
When things happen at the same time, they are said to coincide. Often, this is because they're intentionally coordinated — "the bake sale coincided with Parent Day" — but not always. Coincide can also mean happen together in other ways. "My mother's views on appropriate teen fashion do not always coincide with mine" is a tactful way to say she hates your clothes. You could also describe two roads coming together as coinciding — though it's more poetic to talk about when they diverge.
Vocabulary lists containing coincide
Eclipse Vocabulary
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The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
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Latin Love, Vol II: cadere
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The ambitious completion date is set to coincide with a time when eyes from around the world will be on the Los Angeles region, including its renowned beaches.
From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026
These spikes coincide with an explosion of interest in terms such as “hantavirus,” “Moderna hantavirus,” and “hantavirus vaccine.”
From Barron's • May 8, 2026
In my first few years in the Premier League at Stoke, I would always hope that our fixtures against the top-six clubs would coincide with either their European midweek games or international matches.
From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026
Why did such a difficult time for the American people coincide with such a flourishing of creativity?
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 2026
A somewhat more immediate influence was Aristotle himself, whose death in 322 happened to coincide with Ptolemy’s accession to the governorship of Egypt.
From "Circumference" by Nicholas Nicastro
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
