recurrent

[ri-kur-uhnt, -kuhr-]

adjective

1. that recurs; occurring or appearing again, especially repeatedly or periodically.

   Synonyms: intermittent, persistent, repeated

2. Anatomy.,  turned back so as to run in a reverse direction, as a nerve, artery, branch, etc.

recurrent

/ rɪˈkʌrənt /

adjective

1. happening or tending to happen again or repeatedly

2. anatomy (of certain nerves, branches of vessels, etc) turning back, so as to run in the opposite direction

Other Word Forms

• recurrently adverb
• unrecurrent adjective
• unrecurrently adverb
• recurrence noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of recurrent¹

1590–1600; < Latin recurrent- (stem of recurrēns ), present participle of recurrere to run back, equivalent to recurr ( ere ) ( recur ) + -ent- -ent

Example Sentences

Bayer says that of the 12 million people who suffer a stroke each year, 20% to 30% will be a recurrent stroke, and that one in five stroke survivors have another one in five years.

Read more on MarketWatch

She says she's had to be on a cocktail of medications her whole life to deal with mental-health issues, which she attributes to her time at the Allan, as well as recurrent nightmares.

Read more on BBC

“This is a recurrent theme whenever the market moves our way,” wrote Burry.

Read more on Literature

Depression in most people is a chronic or recurrent illness, says Lenze.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Between recurrent bouts of plague and the even more dangerous shifts in court politics, the place was often just scraping by.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• frequent 
• intermittent 
• periodic 
• recurring 
• repeated 
• repetitive