occurrence
Americannoun
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the action, fact, or instance of occurring.
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something that happens; event; incident.
We were delayed by several unexpected occurrences.
- Synonyms:
- circumstance
noun
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something that occurs; a happening; event
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the act or an instance of occurring
a crime of frequent occurrence
Related Words
See event.
Other Word Forms
- occurrent adjective
- preoccurrence noun
- reoccurrence noun
Etymology
Origin of occurrence
1530–40; < Latin occurrent-, stem of occurrēns (present participle of occurrere “to run up to, run to meet”), from oc- (variant of ob- ; ob- ( def. ) ) + currere “to run” + -ence; compare Medieval Latin occurrentia
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.
He recalls thinking, "it would be nice to write a short paper reporting the occurrence of these wasp nests in the mandibles."
From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026
This most recent incident is a rare occurrence for robotaxi companies in China after the widespread rollout of such vehicles in major cities across the country.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026
Det Ch Insp Alison Foxwell said the death of a baby was "always an extremely tragic occurrence".
From BBC • Mar. 15, 2026
The unscripted occurrence, she says, was “one of the best moments I’ve ever experienced in making art.”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 4, 2026
The delusion was deeper, in the core of my mind, which invented in the very moment of occurrence, then recorded the fiction.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
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.
