encounter

[en-koun-ter]

verb (used with object)

1. to come upon or meet with, especially unexpectedly.

   to encounter a new situation.

2. to meet with or contend against (difficulties, opposition, etc.).

   We encounter so many problems in our work.

3. to meet (a person, military force, etc.) in conflict.

   We will encounter the enemy at dawn.

verb (used without object)

1. to meet, especially unexpectedly or in conflict.

   We were angry when we encountered, but we parted with smiles.

noun

1. a meeting with a person or thing, especially a casual, unexpected, or brief meeting.

   Our running into each other was merely a chance encounter.

2. a meeting of persons or groups that are in conflict or opposition; combat; battle.

   Another such encounter and we may lose the war.

3. 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 encountertherapy.

encounter

/ ɪnˈkaʊntə /

verb

1. to come upon or meet casually or unexpectedly

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

3. (tr) to be faced with; contend with

   he encounters many obstacles in his work

noun

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

2. a hostile meeting; contest or conflict

Other Word Forms

• encounterer noun
• preencounter noun
• reencounter verb
• unencountered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of encounter¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English encountren, from Anglo-French enco(u)ntrer, from Vulgar Latin incontrāre (unrecorded), equivalent to in- in- ¹ + -contrāre, verb suffix derived from contrā “against”; counter ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of encounter¹

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

Example Sentences

But Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe had warned the 36-year-old "looked as good as ever" before Tuesday night's Champions League encounter in Marseille.

Read more on BBC

The visitors played just over half the encounter a player down following captain Ronald Araujo's dismissal for two bookable offences on the stroke of half-time.

Read more on Barron's

The producers used a casting director to find these folks but Sheeran says none of them knew they’d be encountering him as they went about their business in Manhattan.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

To him, Palantir offered the perfect solution to everyday issues he encountered at work.

Read more on MarketWatch

Ribosomes also help detect cellular stress and can trigger protective actions when the cell encounters harmful conditions.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

• bear 
• bump into 
• come across 
• come upon 
• confront 
• detect 
• experience 
• face 
• find 
• meet 
• run into 
• suffer 
• turn up