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

Over the years, Hulse has encountered plenty of boundary-pushing contestants who were determined to use the crown to advance progressive causes, she noted.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Add “therapists who help patients through dolphin encounters” to the federal bureaucracy’s list of societal outlaws.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

If that encounter had been described to Newsom five years ago—when turbine sales were much slower, renewable energy was in favor and electricity demand was flat—he says he probably would have laughed.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In 1983, the cosmetics heir Leonard Lauder had his first encounter with the art collection of the art critic and historian Douglas Cooper.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They’d encountered coaches throughout the recruiting process who fawned over Stewart and his potential.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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