coincide
Americanverb (used without object)
-
coincides,
present (3rd person singular)
-
coincided,
past participle, past
-
coinciding
present participle
-
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
-
to be identical in nature, character, etc
-
to agree
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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coincidesimple
-
coincidessimple
-
have coincidedperfect
-
has coincidedperfect
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am coincidingprogressive
-
are coincidingprogressive
-
is coincidingprogressive
-
have been coincidingperfect progressive
-
has been coincidingperfect progressive
Past
-
coincidedsimple
-
had coincidedperfect
-
was coincidingprogressive
-
were coincidingprogressive
-
had been coincidingperfect progressive
Future
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.
See Examples For:
Shops and other businesses in Paris and other cities on Friday were boarding up windows as France braced for a third consecutive weekend of protests that coincide with Halloween celebrations.
From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026
Concerns about literacy’s decline coincide with every major change in communications technology.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
But it did coincide with record coastal erosion along many California beaches, according to the state Coastal Commission.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2026
Instead, the surprising finding is that increasing one form appears to coincide with a reduction in the other.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026
For certain wavelengths the crests of the waves reflected from one side of the soap film coincide with the troughs reflected from the other side.
From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking
The trip also coincides with a mounting controversy over disability benefits in Argentina, under debate ahead of the 2027 budget.
From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026
His latest call coincides with a comeback for Magnificent 7 stocks after a struggle for those earlier this year.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 7, 2026
The planned separation coincides with further business-to-business expansion through the purchase of Clarion from Blackstone.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
His performance coincides with the 50th anniversary of him winning a poetry competition aged 12, which he said had changed his life.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026
The transition roughly coincides with the transition between dry and wet seasons—the time when the Milky Way releases life-giving water to Pacha Mama, Mother Earth—and divides the heavens into four quar- ters.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
“Legislative constraint has historically coincided with stronger equity-market returns,” said Jason Pride, chief of investment strategy at Glenmede.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026
The videos, which broke down financial issues in simple terms, became hugely popular as they coincided with a rapid expansion in India's retail investor base, especially since the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic.
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026
The stagnation has coincided with several major shocks on the global economy, including the Covid-19 pandemic, recurring trade rows and multiple wars.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026
His move toward a more private existence also coincided with the end of another major chapter in his real estate portfolio: his decadeslong ownership of an impressive Brentwood estate.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026
The judges chosen were Mr. Oliver and an able lawyer: both coincided in my opinion: I carried my point.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
Authorities have been worried the protests, coinciding with Halloween, could be marred by the same kind of violence seen elsewhere in Europe.
From Barron's ● Oct. 31, 2026
That opportunity is coinciding with Palantir’s move toward a more vertical model that involves adapting its various products and platforms to specific industries, she added.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026
It comes as the head of the RAF said the UK faced "unprecedented threats" from adversaries in space, coinciding with the creation of a new RAF unit set up to defend Britain's satellites.
From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026
The coast is dangerous this week because high tides — which peak in the evening — are coinciding with a southerly swell, Black said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 5, 2026
I felt like the centre of a small circle coinciding with the centre of a much larger one.
From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
