encounter

[en-koun-ter]

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verb (used with object)

to come upon or meet with, especially unexpectedly: to encounter a new situation.

to meet with or contend against (difficulties, opposition, etc.): We encounter so many problems in our work.

to meet (a person, military force, etc.) in conflict: We will encounter the enemy at dawn.

verb (used without object)

to meet, especially unexpectedly or in conflict: We were angry when we encountered, but we parted with smiles.

noun

a meeting with a person or thing, especially a casual, unexpected, or brief meeting: Our running into each other was merely a chance encounter.

a meeting of persons or groups that are in conflict or opposition; combat; battle: Another such encounter and we may lose the war.

Psychology. a meeting of two or more people, as the members of an encounter group or a number of married couples (marriage encounter), conducted to promote direct emotional confrontations among the participants, especially as a form of therapy (encounter therapy).

Origin of encounter

1250–1300; Middle English encountren < Anglo-French enco(u)ntrer; Old French < Vulgar Latin *incontrāre, equivalent to in- in-¹ + -contrāre, derivative of contrā against; see counter³

Related formsen·coun·ter·er, nounpre·en·coun·ter, noun, verb (used with object)re·en·coun·ter, verb, nounun·en·coun·tered, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for encounter

interview, confrontation, rendezvous, violence, combat, clash, contest, run-in, battle, skirmish, bout, dispute, action, conflict, quarrel, detect, confront, experience, face, bear

Examples from the Web for encounter

Contemporary Examples of encounter

This is heartfelt music, and after a first encounter you will find yourself coming back for more.
The Best Albums of 2014
Ted Gioia
December 13, 2014
Outside of that one encounter, however, Moses is pretty meek.
Christian Bale: One Man's Moses Is Another Man's Terrorist
Candida Moss, Joel Baden
December 7, 2014
What if healthy sexuality was the framework that young adults used to process every sexual message that they encounter?
A Rallying Cry Against the Oversexualization of Our Youth
Darryl Roberts
November 30, 2014
Often, the most common opportunity for police officers to encounter a sovereign citizen is during a traffic stop.
Sovereign Citizens Are America’s Top Cop-Killers
Caitlin Dickson
November 25, 2014
On the second planet, they encounter a marooned astronaut named Dr. Mann, and a fistfight ensues.
Neil deGrasse Tyson Breaks Down ‘Interstellar’: Black Holes, Time Dilations, and Massive Waves
Marlow Stern
November 11, 2014

Historical Examples of encounter

Had the encounter been anticipated his composure would perhaps have failed him.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
As a last rally, he tried to picture the difficulties he might encounter.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
If you go towards the harbour, you'll most likely encounter your brother.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. 327
Various
By this time several persons had hurried to the scene of the encounter.
Grace Harlowe's Return to Overton Campus
Jessie Graham Flower
Chicago Red grinned with cheerful acceptance of the issue in such an encounter.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana

British Dictionary definitions for encounter

encounter

verb

to come upon or meet casually or unexpectedly

to come into conflict with (an enemy, army, etc) in battle or contest

(tr) to be faced with; contend withhe encounters many obstacles in his work

noun

a meeting with a person or thing, esp when casual or unexpected

a hostile meeting; contest or conflict

Derived Formsencounterer, noun

Word Origin for encounter

C13: from Old French encontrer, from Vulgar Latin incontrāre (unattested), from Latin in- ² + contrā against, opposite

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for encounter

c.1300, "meeting of adversaries, confrontation," from Old French encontre "meeting; fight; opportunity," noun use of preposition/adverb encontre "against, counter to" from Late Latin incontra "in front of," from Latin in- "in" (see in- (2)) + contra "against" (see contra). Modern use of the word in psychology is from 1967, from the work of U.S. psychologist Carl Rogers (1902-1987). Encounter group attested from 1967.

c.1300, "to meet as an adversary," from Old French encontrer "confront," from encontre (see encounter (n.). Weakened sense of "casually meet" first recorded in English early 16c. Related: Encountered; encountering.