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encounter

[ en-koun-ter ]
/ ɛnˈkaʊn tər /
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See synonyms for: encounter / encountered / encountering / encounters on Thesaurus.com

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
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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

OTHER WORDS FROM encounter

en·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. 2023

How to use encounter in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for encounter

encounter
/ (ÉȘnˈkaʊntə) /

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 forms of encounter

encounterer, noun

Word Origin for encounter

C13: from Old French encontrer, from Vulgar Latin incontrāre (unattested), from Latin in- ÂČ + 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
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