occur
Americanverb (used without object)
verb
-
to happen; take place; come about
-
to be found or be present; exist
-
(foll by to) to be realized or thought of (by); suggest itself (to)
Usage
It is usually regarded as incorrect to talk of pre-arranged events occurring or happening : the wedding took place (not occurred or happened ) in the afternoon
Related Words
See happen.
Other Word Forms
- preoccur verb (used without object)
- reoccur verb (used without object)
- unoccurring adjective
Etymology
Origin of occur
First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin occurrere “to run to meet, arrive, meet,” equivalent to oc- oc- + currere “to run”
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.
The team searched for "dips" in the transmitted light signal that indicate resonance, which occurs when photons become trapped and circulate within the structure.
From Science Daily
Sickle cell disease occurs in about one out of every 365 Black or African American births.
From Los Angeles Times
The name comes from the northeastern winds that occur during the storm, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
"We will fully investigate how it occurred and what steps can be put in place to prevent it occurring again."
From BBC
In earlier studies, similar responses typically took 4 to 6 days to occur.
From Science Daily
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
