recur

verb

re·​cur ri-ˈkər 

recurred; recurring

intransitive verb

1

: to have recourse : resort

2

: to go back in thought or discourse

on recurring to my letters of that date

—Thomas Jefferson

3

a

: to come up again for consideration

b

: to come again to mind

4

: to occur again after an interval : occur time after time

the cancer recurred

Examples of recur in a Sentence

There is only a slight chance that the disease will recur.

The same problem keeps recurring.

Recent Examples on the Web

In another sketch, the comic stood alongside Kristen Wiig as her popular Target Lady character, a recurring bit that always got laughs. —Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 25 Dec. 2024

There’s probably a natural element to Saka’s robustness, reaching his sixth season before having any real recurring injuries. —Geoff Scott, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 2024

The police whistle acts not unlike the feather from Forrest Gump: A recurring sign that pushes Dylan along toward his eventual decision to shake up the formula and trade folk for rock ‘n’ roll. —Brady Gerber, Vulture, 24 Dec. 2024

From Boar's Head and McDonald's to cucumbers and carrots, outbreaks of illnesses caused by E. coli, listeria and salmonella have been the primary cause of the recurring recalls, some of which resulted in hospitalizations and deaths. —Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 24 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin recurrere "to run back, return, have recourse (to)," from re- re- + currere "to run" — more at current entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1512, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

recur

verb

re·​cur ri-ˈkər 

recurred; recurring

1

: to go or come back in thought or discussion

2

: to come again into the mind

3

: to occur or appear again

recurrence

-ˈkər-ən(t)s 

-ˈkə-rən(t)s

noun

Medical Definition

recur

intransitive verb

re·​cur ri-ˈkər 

recurred; recurring

: to occur again after an interval

a disease likely to recur